Vital Yoga

May 22, 2013 Happy Birthday Mama/Jolie!!

vitalyoga — Fri, 10 May 2013 21:55:01 +0000

This is just a ploy to see if my mom actually reads my blog. I have a sneaking suspicion she doesn’t. But she may do after I shame her publicly! Those of you loyal readers who do, make sure not to mention that her birthday wish is here.

All pretend shaming aside, how fortunate are Desi and I that our mother not only practices yoga with us, but teaches? We truly use what we’ve gleaned from our years of practicing as a family to stay as healthy as possible, being a family, and subject to the drama of family dynamics. There’s nothing I can’t express to my mom. There’s nothing she hasn’t supported with her entire being, no matter how crazy the dream. We are grateful to her for kindness, our first example of compassion, her devotion to us and our practitioners at Vital, her humor, and her willingness to continue growing. We’re also grateful for the seamless manner in which she mothers-many of you have commented on how you would like her to be your mother. In many ways she is, as and when you need. She’s a beacon of beauty inside and out, and Desi and I are happy to share her loving energy with you all! In fact, that’s probably what we do best through our teachings; share what our mom imparted on us through her loving and generous spirit. Vital would literally not be possible without you, mom! Have a beautiful birthday, mother’s day, and month of May! We love you! ~Micah and Desi

May 15, 2013 Hafiz Poem relating to previous blog entry…

vitalyoga — Fri, 10 May 2013 21:53:11 +0000

MY EYES SO SOFT

Don’t

Surrender

Your loneliness so quickly.

Let it cut more

Deep.

Let it ferment and season you

As few human

Or even divine ingredients can.

Something missing in my heart tonight

Has made my eyes so soft,

My voice so

Tender,

My need of God

Absolutely

Clear.

May 9, 2013 Like Cures Like

vitalyoga — Fri, 10 May 2013 21:52:39 +0000

I got a splinter deep in my heel a few days ago. It’s takes flexibility of the contortionist variety to remove a splinter from the center of the heel, but I had a memory of the children in Kenya, who get splinters daily because they live where the dreaded Acacia thorn rules the desert, as well as they don’t have shoes. I got splinters at least weekly and I have shoes so you can imagine the length of the thorn. The memory spurred a thought. Along with shoes, nomads also lack tweezers, needles, etc- all handy for splinter removal. What do they use? They use the Acacia thorns! Like cures like. It’s a homeopathic law. If you are nauseous, you take the most minute dose of Ipecac, and you feel better. So, I wondered…what about the emotional body? What if I’m sad? Could I hit the sadness out of the park if I indulged in just a little more, like watching a movie about a break-up when you are recently single? My answer: Yes! It has worked in the past, pushing the threshold of emotional pain to experience the imminent breakthrough! It definitely works more effectively than pushing that which ails us away. What we resist, persists, right? Life is an immersion of sorts. We can’t deny the sensations for long. The sensations are not only part of the deal-they are the deal! That’s what separates the living from the non-living, so we may as well surrender to what is, go all the way in, and hopefully cure ourselves of it…at least temporarily, until we call it back around.

April 30, 2013 Cabo Pulmo, Mexico

vitalyoga — Wed, 01 May 2013 00:12:00 +0000

Today is my sweetheart’s birthday. The groundskeeper here at our little rented casita forgets his name is Lee and keeps calling him Al, which makes us laugh as he isn’t at all an Al. We’ve just had lunch: fresh corn tortillas, sautéed jalapeño, red and yellow peppers, an amazing fish called Amber Jack, (which the groundskeeper caught for us) rice, avocado, lime and salt! Beautiful! The taste was deeply gratifying especially after the sort of hunger only playing in the sea and sun conjures. Last night we read the stars and marveled as more lights went out, more constellations appeared, reminding us of how eternal the universe is and how benevolent for allowing us to be here, co-creating, reveling in all there is, above and below. We’ve decided to practice being more and doing less. So far so good. Lee reads me Tom Robbins’ stories and as we mind our sunburns and seek the shade of a nearby Palapa, we travel only by imagination. Yoga has prepared us both with the gift of presence. Today, after a nap, we’ll saunter back to the secluded cove and see what snorkeling portends. We’ve heard there’s a turtle. Yesterday we swam with curious sea lions in aqua-colored water. Nothing but beauty to report, which is how a birthday well-celebrated should be. The dreaded carnivorous “red devil” squid I was fearing are nowhere in sight! Gratitude has filled my eyes and heart! Happy Birthday Leo!

A SolaLuna Yoga Reunion – “An Ocean of Possibility”

vitalyoga — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:11:41 +0000

Dear Friends,

I am requesting your presence for an evening of yogic celebration! After spending eight months in beautiful Costa Rica, I am returning home for a visit! I would love to share my personal adventures and new insights regarding this infinite ocean of possibility we call life! We will explore these concepts through asana and pranayama. Can’t wait to see you all!!

In Gratitude,

Megan Panchinin

Date: June, 7

Time: 7-9pm

Where: Vital Highlands

Cost: $25

Summer Solstice Yoga Mala 108

vitalyoga — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:58:45 +0000

Yoga Mala with Tiffany Shocklee and music from Lil’ Sumn Sumn

Join your Vital yoga community in an exuberant ritual practice- 108 Surya Namaskar/Sun salutations offered up in celebration of the summer solstice. In the lingering light of the brightest day of the year, we invite our own internal flame and creative potential to shine forth. Musical guests Lil Sum’n Sum’n weave a trance of tribal beats to draw you deeper into your own rhythmic pulse. With poetry, philosophy, and powerful silence blended in, the repetition of a simple sequence becomes a full body meditation. The collective fire grows stronger from each individual spark- whether you do all 108 sun salutations is not the point. This is a potent practice to honor the passing of seasons and to bask in the light of the vibrant Vital community.

All levels of experience are welcome.

Please join us afterwards for potluck style food and drink. Feel free to bring something delicious if you are inspired.

Date: June 21, 2013

Time: 7:30-10pm

Cost: $25

April 24, 2013 Vital Living!

vitalyoga — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 03:13:06 +0000

Wow! What a profound transformation I’ve been able to witness in this week-long immersion into the tools that we’ve identified as most effective in shifting the physical, emotional, and even spiritual conditioning. This is, by far, our best offering because of the intensity, the expertise of the staff, and the method of the daily instruction. I’m extremely proud to be part of this immersion into self. When at the end of my life, if I have the gift of being conscious, I’ll feel good about co-facilitating Vital Living. I’ll feel good knowing that I taught from my practices and my heart, given the most refined instruction I am capable of to date. May will be our last immersion for a bit. If you are at all interested, talk to us and we’ll explain what you can expect, then we’ll all work to blow those expectations sky high! The tricky thing about transformation is there’s no way to clearly see from here where we’ll be then, and it’s also the beauty. Consciousness is a marvelous tool; whatever we shift the focus to is expanded and enhanced, serving the greater whole. Whether it’s a week or a lifetime is not so important as recognizing our gift to shift. And by the way, did I mention my father bought a juicer? Now that’s transformation! Here’s to yours and ours at Vital!

Getting the Balls To Balance

vitalyoga — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 20:30:47 +0000

Want to hold a handstand or forearm stand in the middle of the room? Want to wean yourself off of the wall and feel the freedom of true balance? Then join Therese Chavez Saturday, May 18 for her arm balance play-shop “Getting the Balls to Balance”. As Therese demystifies these adventurous poses, you will learn:

·      Tips and exercises for building your core.

·      Clear and simple techniques for balancing in the middle of the room.

·      And finally the joy and freedom of letting your inner fearlessness come out and play in a safe environment.

While we’ll focus on having fun with handstands and forearm stands, you’ll also reap the benefits of inverting. This includes developing focus, coordination and patience while strengthening the body evenly to improve flexibility.   Orienting the body upside down gives perspectives to see the world and yourself in a new courageous way.  I will take individual differences into account – as well as injuries or limitations.

Part of the proceeds will be donated to “Relay for Life”  a support network for the American Cancer Society.

Therese Chavez has been a joyful practitioner of Yoga for 13 years and has been teaching at Vital Yoga for the last 8 of those years.

May 18, 2013

1-4pm

Highlands

$35

April 10, 2013 – Blossoms in Snow

vitalyoga — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:26:12 +0000

Blossoms in Snow

We hang from the limbs like everyone’s prayers

fragile, wondering if we spoke too soon

if we emerged from our deep winter too happily pink.

We’re exposed, paper thin nakedness.

There’s no greater vulnerability

than a rosy smile in a blowing blizzard

And yet, we have no choice,

when that heavenly union of time, sun, and rain

meet us in the center of our divinity.

We are blossoms and we are here to:

Open

Yield

Shimmer

Bloom!

Yoga Nidra Workshop

vitalyoga — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 17:22:41 +0000

Experience the powerful practice that induces a complete state of physical, mental, and emotional relaxation. Learn techniques to still the mind by releasing the many layers of mental conflict and unrest.

Understand how yoga nidra works, the many benefits it has to offer, and why it’s such an integral aspect of a balanced yoga practice and a harmonious life in general.

Learn how to effectively:

- access a deeper level of inner awareness and equanimity

- increase the capacity for self-healing

- strengthen the immune system

- receive deep physical and mental restoration

- release unwanted habits, conditioned behaviors, tensions, and

self-limiting beliefs

- unleash creativity

- awaken your greatest, inner potential

This workshop will begin with a thorough description of yoga nidra and will discuss the 7 layers of perception that we pass through during the practice. There will be a short and gentle asana (posture) practice to begin to release tension in the body prior to the actual nidra practice which will be a 1hr guided meditation in the pose shavasana (corpse pose). Afterward there will be time for questions and answers about personal experience.

1hr yoga nidra = 4hrs conventional sleep

Cost – $35

May 11th

12-3pm Highlands