tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62249151607645948812024-03-13T14:39:54.602-07:00Yoga with Rita - musings of a movement geek Flower gyrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001394794986782988noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6224915160764594881.post-75456759342985067642024-03-08T14:43:00.000-08:002024-03-08T14:43:57.579-08:00Yoga nidra and distant reiki series coming soon<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I love yoga nidra, and I love reiki, so of course I dreamed up a way to combine them. I think of this series as a gentle powerhouse of rest, relaxation and healing. You the student simply lie down and rest, allowing me to guide you to a deep state of awareness, while receiving the healing energy of reiki.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">My 4 week series, Yoga Nidra and distant Reiki starts on April 1. In each class I will guide you through a sweet and seasonal nidra. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> To amplify the healing I will send distant reiki to students (either present at the Livestream or listening to the recording). Reiki is </span><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">an energy healing practice from Japan that nourishes me with its gentle power. I love sharing it with those in my circle. </span></span></p><ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">You will receive:</span></span></p></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: circle; margin-left: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">4 weekly livestream yoga nidra classes </span></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: circle; margin-left: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">curated list of resources on yoga nidra and reiki</span></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: circle; margin-left: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">access to yoga nidra recordings for your home practice during the series until May 6. </span></span></p></li></ul><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dates and Times: April 1, 8,15, 22 from 7-7:45 pm PST </span></span></p></li></ul><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">Click </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.thebymc.com/post/yoga-nidra-with-distant-reiki&source=gmail&ust=1710023981312000&usg=AOvVaw2l7Gt6s45ohhxuPhoDyIoV" href="https://www.thebymc.com/post/yoga-nidra-with-distant-reiki" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">here</span></a><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;"> to register. </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Your investment is $75. </span></p>Flower gyrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001394794986782988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6224915160764594881.post-35951241445955364692024-02-03T11:46:00.000-08:002024-02-03T11:46:26.125-08:00New series starting this month - Yoga Nidra for the Chakras<p>One of my favorite things about being a nidra teacher is creating new offerings (and all the learning that entails)...so later this month you can enjoy a brand new nidra offering that taps into the chakras, the ancient South Asian philosophy of how energy flows through the body/mind/spirit. This 4 week series will allow you to progress from the root chakra up to the crown, with nidras infused with poetry, color and rest....</p><p>I integrate crystals in the series too, so you will receive suggestions for how you can use crystals to support specific chakras each week. There will be optional journaling prompts at the end of each class, so that you can write or draw whatever you download from the nidra experience. </p><p>Classes are livestreamed each Monday evening, 7pm PST. You will get recordings to support your home practice, as well as a curated list of resources on yoga nidra, chakras and crystals.</p><p>Dates are: Feb. 19, 26, March 4 and 11. 7 pm PST</p><p>Your investment is $70. </p><p>Join me! Register <a href="https://www.thebymc.com/post/yoga-nidra-for-the-chakras" target="_blank">here. </a> </p>Flower gyrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001394794986782988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6224915160764594881.post-39213885509748321362024-01-14T11:16:00.000-08:002024-01-14T11:16:05.029-08:00Research on the benefits of nidra <p>Karen Brody of Daring to Rest shared this <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024002111?fbclid=IwAR2oVbh5IIyHb6MZgLhL0NiCAszwKeFBqA2W8kgKz-fy5WajwzC7TyW3RZc" target="_blank">research </a>with us Daring to Rest nidra facilitators.</p><p>There's science behind the power of this potent and ancient practice...which was proven to help athletes recover, sleep better and manage stress.</p><p>My January nidra offerings are a great chance to experience this healing practice, pay what you can. </p>Flower gyrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001394794986782988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6224915160764594881.post-25596286860429142092024-01-14T10:57:00.000-08:002024-01-14T10:57:32.133-08:00Yoga nidra offerings for January - donation based<p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I am excited to be offering two <span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">nidra classes this month via the Bhakti Yoga Movement Center online. They are short and sweet drop in nidras (30 minutes tops, no journaling). </span> Register <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.thebymc.com/post/short-sweet-yoga-nidra-2&source=gmail&ust=1705341726352000&usg=AOvVaw35zPg1ul3-DDpFsmHvnV0r" href="https://www.thebymc.com/post/short-sweet-yoga-nidra-2" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">To encourage rest as we collectively recover from the holiday season (whatever that means for you), I am offering these classes on a donation basis, pay what you can. </span>Recordings will be available to students until Feb. 1 to support your home practice. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Questions? Please post those here. </span></span></p>Flower gyrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001394794986782988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6224915160764594881.post-57449274598281425472023-12-15T14:10:00.000-08:002023-12-15T14:10:12.250-08:00Podcast debut <p>I did my first podcast!</p><p>Wonderful yoga therapist Sarah Nelsen invited me on her podcast to talk about yoga nidra (one of my favorite topics btw). </p><p>So please take a listen when it drops in January. At the end you can enjoy a short nidra practice (hey, if you are driving or jogging, please pull over when it gets to that part).</p><p>Her podcast is on all the platforms, so check it out <a href="https://sarahnelsenyoga.transistor.fm/">here.</a></p>Flower gyrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001394794986782988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6224915160764594881.post-32243310826211544322023-12-15T10:04:00.000-08:002023-12-15T14:06:50.258-08:00Start 2024 with rest - nidra classes in January <p>After the holidays January rolls in...</p><p>I imagine many of us will crave some rest and quiet time to pause.</p><p>I got you.</p><p>I am offering two drop in classes with short and sweet nidras. These classes are pay what you can, so money isn't a barrier. </p><p>These 30 minute nidras are soft pauses in your evening. No journaling or such. Simple rest.</p><p>I hope you can join me. </p><p>Here's the <a href="https://www.thebymc.com/post/short-sweet-yoga-nidra-2" target="_blank">link</a> to register. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Flower gyrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001394794986782988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6224915160764594881.post-15574948944588555352023-12-10T18:58:00.000-08:002023-12-10T18:58:54.981-08:00Yoga nidra for grieving and broken hearts - a special offering<p>As I am in the midst of my own grief, I have been practicing yoga nidra almost every day (sometimes I miss a day, but then there have been days when I have done two nidras!). Nidra holds me when I struggle with sleeping and when I need to pause in the middle of a full day. </p><p>I created a special nidra for grieving hearts for my little sister who was my mom's primary caregiver for years and has been dealing with long COVID....she's one of my biggest fans of my nidras. </p><p>Then I thought that this nidra could be offered widely to the community, because I know that many hearts are grieving for so many things, both personal and global. </p><p>Here's a <a href="https://www.thebymc.com/post/yoga-nidra-for-the-grieving-heart" target="_blank">link</a> to register (it's tomorrow!). It's livestream, so you can practice wherever you are. A recording will be available for more than a month to nurture your personal practice. You will also get a sweet curated list of resources too.</p>Flower gyrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001394794986782988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6224915160764594881.post-52131478336087205692023-11-07T18:51:00.002-08:002023-11-07T18:53:16.835-08:00Short and sweet nidras in November, new one time offering in December <p>As I navigate the world without my mother in it, what I notice is that grief is exhausting, and it can mess with your sleep. I have been doing nidras daily....it's been a huge support. </p><p>Right now I am offering another round of short and sweet nidra <a href="https://www.thebymc.com/post/short-sweet-yoga-nidra-1" target="_blank">classes</a> at the Bhakti Yoga Movement Center. They are drop in classes and by donation this month, as I really want to have as many folks access this healing and nourishing practice that has sustained me through the pandemic, an international move, caregiving and now grieving. Just register on their website.</p><p>I am really excited about a special nidra class I am offering December 4 at 7 pm PST for the grieving heart. This will be an hour long class with a nidra that allows space for your grief and your joy (the practice of welcoming and holding opposites!) as well as some optional journaling at the end....</p><p><br /></p>Flower gyrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001394794986782988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6224915160764594881.post-87668293326575023692023-09-11T14:05:00.003-07:002023-09-11T14:05:56.995-07:00Yoga nidra and grief <p>My mother died a week and a day ago, so I have been laying low here and in other spaces of my life. Giving myself some space away....I have been exploring nidras that support me, ones that focus on emotions, ones that center grief. Been doing a lot of iRest nidras these days...</p><p>I am offering an online weekly nidra via the Bhakti Yoga Movement Center, what we are calling short and sweet nidra. 30 minutes of a simple nidra without journaling or any extras (that supports me as the grieving teacher). Register <a href="https://www.thebymc.com/post/short-sweet-yoga-nidra" target="_blank">here</a> if you want to drop in for a class. </p><p>I also want to share some yummy <a href="https://www.katecodrington.co.uk/resources-for-a-good-life/?mc_cid=7c7aa41829&mc_eid=5c4b09f58e" target="_blank">resources</a> from a yoga nidra teacher based in the UK, Kate Codrington. She's an expert on menopause and a nidra teacher, so this page is chock full of good stuff (not just nidras). I am going to explore some of her nidras to branch out a bit. </p>Flower gyrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001394794986782988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6224915160764594881.post-64822426751750328512023-02-13T19:16:00.001-08:002023-02-13T19:16:12.246-08:00March nidra and reiki series coming<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I want to share that the spring yoga nidra with distance reiki series is now open for registration</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.thebymc.com/post/rest-renewal-yoga-nidra-reiki-series&source=gmail&ust=1676430827464000&usg=AOvVaw2zK_7IsAtnV4jzmG6xS7fY" href="https://www.thebymc.com/post/rest-renewal-yoga-nidra-reiki-series" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;" target="_blank">here.</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> I hope that you can join me for restful and healing Monday evenings. If you have any questions, feel free to post a comment. </span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><p id="m_2554374227849096408m_1847265575493843211gmail-viewer-800ph" style="background: rgb(246, 243, 240); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #313130; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Each nidra reflects the spring season, with imagery, visualizations and poetry that will leave you feeling more connected to mother earth as she awakens from the darkness of winter in the northern hemisphere. I will offer distance reiki during the nidra. I also infuse the nidra and reiki with the option to use crystals and essential oils. </span></span></span></p><div style="background: rgb(246, 243, 240); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #313130; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p id="m_2554374227849096408m_1847265575493843211gmail-viewer-3l3rf" style="background: rgb(246, 243, 240); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #313130; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The nidras will be recorded, and those who enroll will have access to the playback until the next Yoga Nidra series begins.</span> </span></span></span></p><div style="background: rgb(246, 243, 240); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #313130; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div id="m_2554374227849096408m_1847265575493843211gmail-viewer-e00tb" style="background: rgb(246, 243, 240); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #313130; direction: ltr; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br role="presentation" style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div style="background: rgb(246, 243, 240); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #313130; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p id="m_2554374227849096408m_1847265575493843211gmail-viewer-74njp" style="background: rgb(246, 243, 240); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #313130; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">From a student who took last year’s series:</span></span></span></p><div style="background: rgb(246, 243, 240); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #313130; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p id="m_2554374227849096408m_1847265575493843211gmail-viewer-7thcn" style="background: rgb(246, 243, 240); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #313130; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">"Rita holds space in a beautiful way. As she guides us through nidra, I felt held, supported, and at ease. Her ability to share distant reiki during these practices is a true gift and blessing. I left feeling well rested and pain free each time I've taken a class with her. So much gratitude for Rita."</span></em></span></span></p><div style="background: rgb(246, 243, 240); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #313130; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div id="m_2554374227849096408m_1847265575493843211gmail-viewer-2v0b6" style="background: rgb(246, 243, 240); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #313130; direction: ltr; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br role="presentation" style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div style="background: rgb(246, 243, 240); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #313130; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p id="m_2554374227849096408m_1847265575493843211gmail-viewer-6geho" style="background: rgb(246, 243, 240); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #313130; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">The details---</span></span></span></span></p><div style="background: rgb(246, 243, 240); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #313130; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><h2 id="m_2554374227849096408m_1847265575493843211gmail-viewer-dv799" style="background: rgb(246, 243, 240); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #313130; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Dates and Times</span></span></span></h2><div style="background: rgb(246, 243, 240); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #313130; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="h2"></div><p id="m_2554374227849096408m_1847265575493843211gmail-viewer-214f0" style="background: rgb(246, 243, 240); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #313130; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">March 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th </span></span></span></p><div style="background: rgb(246, 243, 240); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #313130; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p id="m_2554374227849096408m_1847265575493843211gmail-viewer-6ql44" style="background: rgb(246, 243, 240); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #313130; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">7:00pm - 8:00pm PST</span></span></span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></p><div style="background: rgb(246, 243, 240); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #313130; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div id="m_2554374227849096408m_1847265575493843211gmail-viewer-21p8k" style="background: rgb(246, 243, 240); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #313130; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: inherit;">Deadline to register is </span><b>March 1.</b></span></span></span></div><div style="background: rgb(246, 243, 240); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #313130; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><h2 id="m_2554374227849096408m_1847265575493843211gmail-viewer-61t2t" style="background: rgb(246, 243, 240); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #313130; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Cost</span></span></span></h2><div style="background: rgb(246, 243, 240); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #313130; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="h2"></div><p id="m_2554374227849096408m_1847265575493843211gmail-viewer-7rjva" style="background: rgb(246, 243, 240); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #313130; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> $90. Venmo @Rita-Jimenez-4</span></span></span></p></div>Flower gyrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001394794986782988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6224915160764594881.post-9314437230646284872022-12-03T12:36:00.002-08:002022-12-14T06:01:54.936-08:00Yoga Nidra: Winter's Rest Immersion with Prajna Yoga <p>This online offering fell into my lap a few weeks ago, and I am so excited to be studying with Tias and Surya Little, deeping my nidra practice and knowledge, just in time for my own offering that starts on Monday. Three weeks, three classes. </p><p>I did a weekend yoga asana immersion years ago in PDX (in person, oh those were the days!) and loved the experience...</p><p>My insights so far:</p><p>Tias style of yoga nidra is radically different from any other style or school of nidra I have ever experienced. There is no intention, no breath work, no opposites....honestly I really like and need these components.</p><p>He focuses a great deal on detailed anatomy of nidra, with special care on releasing the hands, face. </p><p>I enjoy (just as my first experience) that he incorporates poetry and potent quotes from teachers into handouts. I love a good informative handout. </p><p>Just like my yoga therapy nidra course earlier this fall, he notes that nidra isn't for everyone. </p><p>He is brilliant at explaining in detail about a good savasana nidra set up with props. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Flower gyrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001394794986782988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6224915160764594881.post-350424654764020452022-11-18T15:06:00.000-08:002022-11-18T15:06:01.026-08:00Winter pause yoga nidra series <p>I love the gestational process of creating a nidra series. Reading my students' feedback from evaluations and emails, thinking about the season and what our bodies and spirits need, in alignment with the season. How I can weave in poetry and crystals into the nidra that are also seasonal? Finding just the right poems. </p><p>So I am excited about the upcoming Winter Pause yoga nidra series coming up in December, the perfect month for nidra, for cozy nests and resting in the dark. </p><p>Three Monday evenings at 7 pm PST. 45 minutes (less if you skip journaling). Optional journaling with prompts that will allow you some space to reflect on 2022, to practice gratitude and look forward...</p><p>This series is online and recorded, so you can attend anywhere you are..registration is up on the Bhakti Yoga Movement Center <a href="https://www.thebymc.com/post/a-time-for-pause-winter-yoga-nidra" target="_blank">website. </a></p><p>Come join me.</p><p>Here is what some of my students are saying:</p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-7b7f5b01-7fff-b12c-d5e7-0ac54552653d"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #f8f9fa; line-height: 1.7142857142857142; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Yoga Nidra has come into my life at the perfect time. I had only just heard of the practice when Rita's class fell into my lap. I am so grateful to be working with Rita to learn about and explore Nidra and Reiki. Rita is supportive and encouraging and her Nidra practices invite calm, non-judgmental rest and reflection. My dog loves it, too! She calms down alongside me and her whole body is relaxed. It's lovely. Julia T.</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #f8f9fa; line-height: 1.7142857142857142; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #f8f9fa; line-height: 1.7142857142857142; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span id="docs-internal-guid-7254ad90-7fff-3ace-b254-95c77ffe8c37"></span></i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #f8f9fa; line-height: 1.7142857142857142; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Rita holds space in a beautiful way. As she guides us through nidra, I felt held, supported, and at ease. Her ability to share distant reiki during these practices is a true gift and blessing. I left feeling well rested and pain free each time I've taken a class with her. So much gratitude for Rita.</i></span></p>Flower gyrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001394794986782988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6224915160764594881.post-82799433740459810352022-09-04T07:28:00.002-07:002022-09-04T07:28:53.064-07:00Lifelong learning and yoga nidra training on safety <p>I love learning. It is one of my super powers. I am always reading, listening to podcasts, videos and films, and absorbing new things. </p><p>As a yoga teacher, I see it as my joy, job and professional responsibility to keep expanding my knowledge. Also as a yoga student, it deepens my own practice. They go hand in hand, of course. </p><p>Several months ago I came across the <a href="https://theyogatherapyinstitute.org//" target="_blank">Yoga Therapy Institute </a>(based in the Netherlands) and their offering of a weekend module on Safety in Yoga Nidra and Relaxation for Yoga Therapy. The title alone intrigued me, particularly since I am trained in trauma-informed yoga practices and am a survivor myself. I signed up and recently completed the training, an intensive two days of lecture with Montserrat Mukherjee and Suze Retera. </p><p>There were MANY takeaways, more than I will blog about, but safe to say that my learnings will inform how I offer nidra to my students.</p><p>One of the big takeaways is that yoga nidra isn't for everyone, even though it is billed and promoted as such. They discussed the physical contraindications and some strategies to use. For example, for folks with diabetes, the blood sugar can drop during yoga nidra, so it's important to be aware of this risk and be prepared. Montserrat shared a story of a student who's blood sugar dropped and how they had to find some sugary food right away after nidra to address this. So she recommends that all students have a beverage and snack for their post nidra period, to help them ground and balance blood sugar levels. Luckily I already encourage my students to have a beverage nearby for post nidra, and I will now encourage folks to have a snack available too.</p><p>Another is that having a sankalpa is not necessary (I often see this in Uma Dunsmore Tuli's nidras, and Montserrat was trained by Uma). It can stress folks out to figure out a sankalpa, and it's not necessary for a nidra experience. Yet another is that as yoga therapists they believe in short nidras, 30 minutes or less. After that we enter the deep sleep state, and it's not rejuvenating to be woken up from that state.</p><p>Want to experience more? I will be offering a yoga nidra and distance reiki <a href="https://www.thebymc.com/post/yoga-nidra-rest-reiki-and-restoration" target="_blank">series</a> online via The Bhakti Yoga Movement Center on September 12. Come experience deep rest and see for yourself. </p>Flower gyrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001394794986782988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6224915160764594881.post-88597101937780851862022-07-11T18:36:00.003-07:002022-07-11T18:36:18.011-07:00Summer recharge nidra series<p> I love summer. The weather, being outside, the foods of summer, everything. But it can be a hectic time of the year...long days full of activity, full sun. Then throw in COVID and all that the pandemic brings. We need to hit the pause button on it all. </p><p>I created a 4 week nidra series to allow a time to recharge and go within to rest. </p><p>Each week the nidra reflects a different summer landscape. The beach, forest, river and lush garden. All the things I love about Pacific NW summers actually. </p><p>I will be sharing recommendations for incorporating plants and crystals into nidras as well, and we always start with an anointing practice to arrive. I love all the senses to be involved....really embody the experience.</p>Flower gyrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001394794986782988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6224915160764594881.post-35910661778571858172022-06-08T11:38:00.000-07:002022-06-08T11:38:08.804-07:00Yoga nidra and reiki - a potent combination <p>I wrapped up my third yoga nidra series with the Bhakti Yoga Movement Center recently, and this time I created a series that combined the power of yoga nidra and distance reiki - a healing and powerful combination. </p><p>This was a first for me to offer distance reiki in this way, and I loved it (so did my students). Each week we came together to rest in nidra, to journal and receive the healing energy of reiki. </p><p>Here are some testimonials from some students: </p><div class="NC79P" style="background-color: #f8f9fa; border-radius: 4px; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 20px; margin: 4px 0px 0px; padding: 10px; white-space: pre-line;">"Rita is a steady and grounded guide. Her voice and rhythm set a pace and tone that helps support deep quiet and rest. Thank you Rita. "Danielle</div><div class="NC79P" style="background-color: #f8f9fa; border-radius: 4px; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 20px; margin: 4px 0px 0px; padding: 10px; white-space: pre-line;">"Taking this 4 week course helped me to incorporate the feeling of rest and mind/body connection into my life more deeply. I find I can access my sense of peace more easily now. I really appreciate learning about and discussing the precepts of Reiki. They are really helpful and I find repeating them to myself when I feel overwhelmed is so helpful. "Just for today...""</div><div class="NC79P" style="background-color: #f8f9fa; border-radius: 4px; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 20px; margin: 4px 0px 0px; padding: 10px; white-space: pre-line;">"A major part of what made the experience so positive to me was being in the space that Rita created. It was safe and caring and Rita's open heart made the experience welcoming and positive."</div><div class="NC79P" style="background-color: #f8f9fa; border-radius: 4px; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 20px; margin: 4px 0px 0px; padding: 10px; white-space: pre-line;">I will be offering another series in July, so please follow @thebhaktiyogamovement center for details on that series in late June/early July. You can take it from the comfort of your home anywhere in the world!</div>Flower gyrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001394794986782988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6224915160764594881.post-359171199937384062022-02-15T18:54:00.003-08:002022-10-12T16:07:04.922-07:00Some feedback from my students <p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Being able to offer yoga and then yoga nidra to my community, the Latino community, in the midst of a global pandemic was absolutely one of the "gifts" of the pandemic. I stretched myself as a teacher, learning to hold space and teach online, as well as teaching myself how to offer yoga nidra. I built community and offered a healing space, free of charge, to Latina community health workers. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is some feedback from a couple of my students, translated from Spanish to English. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">The first testimonial is from a student was terribly impacted by the pandemic, as they lost multiple family members to COVID-19. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"I want to thank you for all your time in offering yoga. I learned many beautiful things with you, being introduced to yoga, as I have told you, I had never done it before. I liked doing it with you, especially yoga nidra. I am in love with your angelic voice that brought much peace to my life. God put you in my path to heal my soul from so much pain that I carried with me from the past months. Little by little I have some peace in my soul. You have changed my life with yoga nidra. Many thanks"</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another student shared, "I learned that the practice of yoga nidra helps me sleep with tranquility and rest. It is very relaxing and my favorite practice."</span></span></p>Flower gyrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001394794986782988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6224915160764594881.post-90039140800790985822021-08-04T12:39:00.002-07:002021-08-04T12:39:39.163-07:00Yoga nidra amid a big life transition<p>I am in the final stages of the Daring to Rest Facilitator training, which I have completed (almost) in the midst of a huge life transition, moving to Oaxaca, Mexico. This transition was one of the most challenging, liberating and stressful things I have ever done. Having yoga nidra as my daily companion has been a much needed balm to my soul, nervous system and body. All the koshas! </p><p>All the while I have continued to offer my weekly online Spanish yoga classes to community health workers, and the yoga nidra that I offer in the class has evolved with my weekly learnings. Feedback from my students has been gratifying, and I will be sharing some of those comments here on the blog. </p><p>My yoga nidra dream is to expand my nidra offerings, online and someday in person, when the COVID pandemic goes away (and we settle more into our new home). </p><p>If you are interested in one on one sessions online, please email me at ritaj65@yahoo.com.</p><p><br /></p>Flower gyrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001394794986782988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6224915160764594881.post-65072065134667800112021-01-26T22:03:00.005-08:002021-01-26T22:03:51.176-08:00Daring to rest journey begins today <p>I came upon yoga nidra about 12 years ago at a yoga studio in my neighborhood. I was immediately captivated by the profound relaxation I experienced, like nothing else I had done before. </p><p>Now I am embarking on this yoga nidra journey with Daring to Rest, a program created by Karen Brody. Her sleep mentor Dr. Naiman is also co-teaching many of the lectures, and I am already blown away by the wisdom and heart they bring to this healing work.</p><p>I will use my blog to share what I learn along the way, starting out with some links to articles by Dr. Naiman: <span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"</span><a class="yiv4046982212" href="https://simplero.com/d/JbytZW3foohzsZ5uY84F5o98/c/2650567/1" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #0000ee; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank" title="">Falling for Sleep."</a> and<span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> "</span><a class="yiv4046982212" href="https://simplero.com/d/JbytZW3foohzsZ5uY84F5o98/c/2650568/2" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #0000ee; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank" title="">In Exile from the Dreamscape</a><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">."</span></p><p><br /></p>Flower gyrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001394794986782988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6224915160764594881.post-61667912799057948412021-01-24T16:50:00.004-08:002021-01-24T16:50:58.074-08:00Somatic meditation, awakening the body <p>During yoga teacher training I learned MANY things. One is that I really prefer somatic meditation. I already knew this before teacher training, but I learned the language around different meditation styles in more depth. A few months ago I had the opportunity to take a virtual course on somatic mediation with Dr. Reggie Ray, based on his fantastic book <u>Awakening the Body</u>. </p><p>I had first heard of him via a Sounds True audiobook, and I found his voice and approach captivating. I jumped at the chance to take a course with him, even if it had to happen virtually. </p><p>I don't think I realized how very ancient the somatic approach to meditation and spirituality is, and Dr. Ray explained the Buddhist lineage that this type of meditation comes from...which I find fascinating, history and religion geek that I am. To give you the briefest summary,<b> the soma is the pathway to enlightenment or awakening. </b></p><p>This runs quite contrary to my own spiritual tradition of Christianity, where the body is generally viewed as a barrier and full of sin. It is all about the spirit and transcending the body. Nonetheless I am really intrigued about the somatic approach to meditation and spirituality. </p><p>So much to learn....more in future posts. </p>Flower gyrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001394794986782988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6224915160764594881.post-82643384298399041782020-12-20T18:37:00.003-08:002020-12-21T20:57:27.515-08:00Solstice, intention and 2021<p>I was blessed to participate in a deeply nourishing online ritual as we move into the darkest period of the year and shift into the light. </p><p>Sally Kempton offered a solstice reset, releasing the karmas of 2020 (oh boy!) and creating intentions for 2021. I have read her articles, her beautiful book on meditation, as well as got to hear her speak at the Movement Center ashram back in the day. </p><p>One of her articles that I read a few years ago in Yoga Journal was about sankalpas, or intentions, and the new year. She provided a ritual practice, involving journaling and fire. I used that ritual intention setting, and it powerfully manifested that year and beyond, so I have great respect for the power of intention setting and her wisdom, and I signed up straight away for this offering. </p><p>The question that she offered us to contemplate is what is the deepest truth you are ready to live in 2021? </p><p> </p><h2 style="color: #006699; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, SunSans-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></h2>Flower gyrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001394794986782988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6224915160764594881.post-74496755032344335502020-10-04T13:50:00.001-07:002020-10-04T13:50:16.307-07:00Yoga in action <p>In this new pandemic world we are living in my yoga teacher training (which concluded this summer) has been a life line. Breathing, moving, staying in my body are all my essential self-care practices. </p><p>One of my yoga goals from the start is sharing this resource, this life-line, with my community, and particularly Spanish speaking working class folks (people like my parents and abuelos) who wouldn't have access otherwise. I took my connections to the promotores de salud community and created a series of classes in Spanish that started 3 weeks ago.</p><p>What a joy. My students are primarily completely new to yoga, which feels like a big responsibility. They identified their needs in a survey, where I learned that stress reduction, sleep, improving balance and exercise are their goals. </p><p>What I've tried so far:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The space orientation from "My Grandmother's hands" that I find a great way to open a class and get folks in their space and body straight away. I wish this book was translated into Spanish!!!</li><li>Yoga nidra is my go to for sleep issues, and I pulled together a yoga nidra script from different sources and translated into Spanish. I tried it for the first time last week, and they loved it!! </li><li>I keep to the same basic sequence, which is a solid trauma informed practice, where repetition creates a container of safety. I tweak a bit and have a different theme each week. The sequence and themes reflect their survey input. </li></ul><p></p><p><br /></p>Flower gyrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001394794986782988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6224915160764594881.post-5720036827540205382020-03-27T13:34:00.002-07:002020-03-27T13:34:50.360-07:00What a difference a year makesIt's been a year since my first magical yoga retreat in Costa Rica. Now I'm in the midst of a yoga <a href="https://thebhaktiyogamovementcenter.com/" target="_blank">teacher training</a> in Oregon, deeply immersed in so many dimensions of yoga - philosophy, meditation, asana, and social justice. Oh did I mention in the midst of a global pandemic?<br />
I am so grateful for yoga right now, in so many ways.<br />
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As I come across resources and insights about how to maintain equilibrium in these times I will use the blog to share them.<br />
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Here's <a href="https://www.sharonsalzberg.com/covid-19-resources/" target="_blank">one </a>for mindfulness meditation from the wise Sharon Salzberg<br />
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<br />Flower gyrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001394794986782988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6224915160764594881.post-34126278987123098232019-04-01T14:07:00.000-07:002019-04-01T14:07:05.465-07:00Yoga retreat magic One thing on my bucket list was to go to a yoga retreat in Costa Rica, a country where I lived 23 years ago and holds a special place in my heart.<br />
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Last month I got to do the thing, and it was magic. Healing. Restful. What I needed. <br />
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First of all, the site was amazing. Perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific and near the town of Montezuma, <a href="https://www.anamayaresort.com/" target="_blank">Anamaya Retreat Center</a> is intimate and beautiful. The views were spectacular. Only 31 guests who all check in on Saturday and stay a week. The food is fresh, healthy and so delicious. The teacher <a href="https://www.harumiyoga.com/" target="_blank">Harumi</a> is a wise and beautiful soul who taught twice a day classes that left me feeling amazing. I specifically chose her because she's a woman of color (Japanese) and older (in her 60s). By the end of week I had made so many new friends, and what I know now is that yoga people are my tribe. The bodywork I received was profound and healing. Another amazing thing for me was that they had some hula hoops, and I got to hoop in the yoga platform with those views. I taught so many folks to hoop, and it created yet another dimension of joy, movement and connection for me and others at the retreat. <br />
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I've been committed to integrating the meditation into my daily life, after getting such compassionate instruction from Harumi. It's been a bit of shock to my body to go back to only a weekly yoga class, and I so miss the views and heat of the tropical rain forest. <br />
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I will be uploading photos of my experience, including a video or two of the hula hooping. Flower gyrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001394794986782988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6224915160764594881.post-33310434624599179142019-01-14T13:53:00.003-08:002019-01-14T14:50:05.649-08:00Hanging around - we are primates Since I last blogged a lot has happened to my body, including a couple of surgeries and a car accident (whiplash). After all of that I am grateful to be healthy and well. I took these as "wake up calls" to better care for and heal my body. It's meant (so far) transitioning to a keto lifestyle, which is HUGE if you have Mexican-Puerto Rican heritage, as we eat carbs as a way of life. I am back in the gym lifting weights, and getting a lot of body work.<br />
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Since the car accident my neck, shoulder and wrists have been crunchy and tight, often painful, so I'm all about figuring out ways to address these issues without medication and using movement.<br />
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The body thinkers (I made that up just now) that I enjoy reading and listening to are Petra Fisher and Katy <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/monkeyhead-freelance/katy-says" target="_blank">Bowman</a> (great podcasts). <br />
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Here's Petra's <a href="http://www.petrafishermovement.com/hang-swing/" target="_blank">blog post</a> on the value of hanging for our bodies; we are primates, after all. So many amazing reasons to hang out from monkey bars or branches. I've started to incorporate hanging when I do my walking in the park workout, since there are monkey bars. Because she points out the value of starting where you are, I am hanging with my feet solidly on the ground. I know that my wrists cannot support anything harder right now. Can I say that it feels frigging awesome during and especially afterwards? My arms, wrists and shoulders feel so good. Like a yummy free Thai massage session. <br />
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I just noticed that my blog photo is in a playground. Well, it's kinda perfect. <br />
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<br />Flower gyrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001394794986782988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6224915160764594881.post-35784584713505195472018-07-25T14:57:00.001-07:002018-07-25T16:39:11.121-07:00Yoga para mi gente Sometimes your vision gets to be made real. For me I had this vision for creating a brown space at my home studio, The People's Yoga.<br />
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Sally approached me about teaching a class in Spanish, and I laid out my vision. She supported it fully....which meant getting me my first yoga photo shoot (note the sweet photo on this blog taken by Maggie Jane Cech!) for the fliers. I wanted to market exclusively in Spanish for Spanish speaking Latinos in my community, and it came together through my outreach and relationships with my Catholic church and fandango community. It was donation only, with all monies going to support Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice. Then I got some Latina healers to join me to make this a really healing space, with massage, acupuncture and herbs. Gracias Mary, Adrianna, and Lara for making it extra. Thanks to Sally for being a fabulous ally. <br />
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The folks who showed up were beautiful. Working class, elders, disabled folks, kids, a guy who broke his leg playing soccer and wanted to do yoga anyway. Mi gente. Most had never ever done yoga before! <br />
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I got to fully apply all that I had learned in the Accessible Yoga training.<br />
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I learned so much and loved it all. Flower gyrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001394794986782988noreply@blogger.com0