Sub City Paris and Yoga

Paris Metro
Originally uploaded by snarkle

Nearly everyday I traverse Paris, teaching yoga all over the city. 98% of the time, I rely on the Paris Metro to get me to and fro. It is so easy to get lulled into a state of urban dweller apathy or (maybe worse, maybe not), disgust. Throw on the headphones, go through the motions, head down, think about my plan for the next class, make as little eye contact as possible...

There are those (thankfully, rare) days when the negative stimulus consumes and all I take in are the grumpy faces, hunched shoulders, delayed train announcements, same five accordion tunes played badly, delightful wafts of urine (and other unmentionables), a scurrying rat, and the occasional pained soul smoking crack at the far end of the platform, surrounded by empty €1.50 wine bottles.

But then there are those days when the breath is flowing and all is moving at a graceful pace, and I pick my head up and see and feel and hear the beauty, history, and romance of this phenomenal public work project. This will occur when, while walking between trains, I pass a tastefully designed poster for an art opening, theater show, or salon. Maybe it happens when I see sepia-toned signage that's been there since the Belle Epoch period. Sometimes it happens when up ahead I witness the kindness of a stranger, helping a senior or parent with a stroller climb the never-ending stairwells between platforms, sans escalator.

Mostly however, it happens when I begin to ascend at my destination. I gaze up and draw in the tops of the Haussman with their ornate iron-work, or the ubiquitous cafe chairs and awnings, or the twinkling of the carousel music, or the glow of a fabled landmark too awe-inspiring to ever conjure apathy...

That's when my heart opens wide and my eyes make contact with a stranger. Without question we know what each other is thinking and it simply has to do with beauty. Ezra Pound was right.

Spend the next three minutes of your life taking in a bit of regular, simple beauty...
Sub City Paris by Redglass Pictures.

Thank you yogateau for introducing me to this beautiful piece of art ~

Remember: Vous Etes Parfait!

remember
Originally uploaded by moechslen

Happy 2012 and a bright new day to you and yours!

On this day, 2 January, after the partying, hosting, gift giving and general end-of-year merriment is over, many people wake up and focus on every one of their flaws. They take a long look in the mirror and focus in on every little thing they don't like about themselves or what they perceive to be lacking. All the gratitude conjured up over the holidays seems to fly out the window. Therein begins the process of making resolutions. The idea is, once acknowledged and perhaps spoken aloud, one will make a plan to change something that is "wrong" into something that is "right": lose weight, exercise more, stop smoking, eat less junk food, make more money...and so forth.

The problem as I see it with this annual routine, is that very few people I know actually achieve their desired result. Like with so many things, when we begin a process emphasizing the negative; the flaws and imperfections, then our energy to maintain the process wains and we go right back to the same old patterns that got us there in the first place.

I like intentions. One of the most meaningful things ever taught to me by my beloved teachers is about the power of intention-making. Intentions are inherently positive because they are a silent reminders to self that we are not flawed, we are absolutely Perfect. We are absolute Perfection. How's that for a new year's wake-up call?

However, in the process of walking this path we've been put on this earth to walk; living this life we've been put here to live, we find ourselves saying or doing things that feel just plain off. We've over-indulged. We've stayed too long. We've walked out too early. We've said things we regret. We've lost it. We've judged. We've grudged. We've hurt. And so forth. (You know the things; while in the midst of them there's this little voice inside that says, "Uh oh, probably shouldn't, nope. Here I go again.")

10 pounds later (for example), we're beating ourselves up and making New Year's resolutions to lose said 10 pounds that we never actually lose. The ego wins again!

As we delve deeper in our practice we realize that this life journey will intersect with the machinations of the ego, over and over and over again. That is certain and unavoidable.

That is Karma.

As one of my great teachers put it several years ago, "The ego's job is to give us insomnia; to help us forget that we are Perfection and therefore keep us in negative, unconscious patterns. Our job as yogis is to train ourselves to have better memory recall. That's why it's called a Practice."

When we make pure and honest intentions to foster and manifest our best selves in areas of our lives where we may have had momentary memory loss, we are literally re-training ourselves out of the old habits. We begin with a positive reminder (Perfection) and from there strengthen and reinforce good habits, instead of feeding the bad. It's a re-calibration of sorts. It's Yoga.

So, instead of "I'm going to make a resolution to lose 10 pounds in 2012." How about, "I am going to love and forgive myself. I'm going to make an intention to access the highest level of health and well-being I can, in all areas of my life."

Intentions need to be accompanied with a practical plan. If that plan is too lofty, expensive, or generally unrealistic, it won't last. But in order to lift our conscious awareness from the resolution level to the intention level and begin shifting the patterns, we must do something small, everyday. And it must begin now.

2012 classes resume tomorrow. Come set an intention and let's collectively help each other begin the year in the most positive way we can.

My new favorite quote which I intend to use over and over this year:

"Come, come, whoever you are, wanderer, fire worshipper, lover of leaving. This is not a caravan of despair. It does not matter that you have broken your vows a thousand times, still come, and yet again, come... " ~ Rumi ~

Bonnes Fetes! Bonne Annee!

Paris @ Night
Originally uploaded by dominikf

Just a reminder that I am taking a little time off during this holiday season to relax, renew, and reflect. All public and private classes are cancelled from 22 Dec - 2 Jan. Classes resume 3 Jan.

Have a joyous holiday and allow in as much awe-filled inspiration as possible.

Love ~
Amanda/DogaYoga

Give/Receive An Experience

holiday in paris ornament
Originally uploaded by ♥ellene ♥

Yoga retreats are, at the very least fun, and at the most, absolutely life changing.

The conditions are usually pretty perfect to take your practice to another level. You delve in, free of distractions and judgements, from the moment you wake up to the moment you lay your grateful head on the pillow. A yoga retreat is time to go deep, start over, grow tall, crawl, fly, cry, laugh, dance, breathe...

Instead of the accumulation of more stuff this holiday, how about giving or receiving the experience of Health, Wellness, and Gourmet Living in the Loire Valley? Dr. Jay Kumar and I are delighted to offer this package of a springtime week in the French countryside Living Your Light and Going Back to the Source.

The complete experience - beginning to end - will be the sweet succulence of Rasa; taking in the flavors and essence of the practice and the place, through every one of the senses. There will be yoga, meditation, dharma talks, Ayurveda consultations, French cooking classes, wine and architecture tours...

Imagine for a moment, you or the beloved yogi in your life opening an envelope on Christmas/Hannukah/Boxing Day/New Years/Festivus in which there is a full or partial gift certificate to have this experience. There will be gratitude and it will be profound.

Contact Dr. Kumar - jay(at)livingyourlight.com - or me - amanda(at)dogayoga.net - if you're interested and we will send you a simple gift card that you can lovingly sign and deliver on the special day of choice.

"Come, come, whoever you are, wanderer, fire worshipper, lover of leaving. This is not a caravan of despair. It does not matter that you have broken your vows a thousand times, still come, and yet again, come... " ~ Rumi ~

One Small Act = More Serotonin!

In the end, only kindness matters
Originally uploaded by SweetOnVeg

Last Karma Yoga Community Class of 2011
Sunday 18 December, Centre de Yoga du Marais, 11h30 - 13h

I will be teaching a donation-based all levels flow class at Centre de Yoga du Marais, supporting Families for Children, a private, non-profit, non-sectarian agency that cares for over 600 destitute and mentally challenged children and adults in India and Bangladesh. This is a "kitchen counter" organization that is run entirely by volunteers and every penny goes straight to the orphanages and schools this agency has set up. The teachers at Centre de Yoga du Marais have been volunteering their service and supporting this organization for several years, through Karma Yoga projects.
Suggested donation: 10€ - 50€
Reservations required. Contact me ~ amanda(at)dogayoga.net

Lest you think acts of service and kindness are just charitable, read on...
(From the blog Mark and Angel Hack Life, Practical Tips for Productive Living and an excerpt from the post "12 Things Happy People Do Differently")

"Practice acts of kindness. – Performing an act of kindness releases serotonin in your brain. (Serotonin is a substance that has TREMENDOUS health benefits, including making us feel more blissful.) Selflessly helping someone is a super powerful way to feel good inside. What’s even cooler about this kindness kick is that not only will you feel better, but so will people watching the act of kindness. How extraordinary is that? Bystanders will be blessed with a release of serotonin just by watching what’s going on. A side note is that the job of most anti-depressants is to release more serotonin. Move over Pfizer, kindness is kicking ass and taking names."

Who couldn't use a large dose of serotonin this holiday season? Take a break from shopping, partying, decorating, traveling, and over-doing. It's as much about opening your heart as it is opening your wallet. Yoga helps us act from a place of sincere empathy, not pity. You'll be doing yourself, and the world, a great service!

Last Class of 2011 ~ Solstice Flow

Winter Solstice 21 Dec
Originally uploaded by BPJBMJ

My last class of 2011 will be on Wednesday 21 December, 12h30 - 13h30, at Paris Yoga! Come fortify yourself for the long winter ahead and celebrate the return of the LIGHT on this most auspicious day.

As for the rest of the month...

Pre-Holiday Workshop
Sunday 4 December, Paris Yoga
The end of the year can be a source of great joy coupled with a lot of anxiety. End-of-year deadlines, over-consumption, over-spending, family obligations, colder weather, and travel challenges can lead to stress and illness. This workshop will focus on those poses and breathing techniques that can keep the nervous system regulated, boost the immune system, and encourage us to make sustainable choices in the flurry of this busy time of year.
Reservations required. Contact Joelle for registration ~ info(at)parisyoga.com

Karma Yoga Community Class
Sunday 18 December, Centre de Yoga du Marais, 11h30 - 13h
I will be teaching a donation-based all levels flow class at Centre de Yoga du Marais, supporting Families for Children, a private, non-profit, non-sectarian agency that cares for over 600 destitute and mentally challenged children and adults in India and Bangladesh. This is a "kitchen counter" organization that is run entirely by volunteers and every penny goes straight to the orphanages and schools this agency has set up. The faculty at Centre de Yoga du Marais has been supporting this organization for several years, through Karma Yoga projects.
Suggested donation: 10€ - 50€
Reservations required. Contact me ~ amanda(at)dogayoga.net

Pre-Registered Classes
The American University/Paris classes end on 5 December.
The Pre-Natal Classes at Paris Yoga end on 13 December.

Public and Private Classes & Class Cards
All private classes will end on 20 December.
All class cards expire on 17 December.

Au revoir, 2011. From the soil to the cellular level you have taught me so much.
Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust.

Burning the Candle at All Ends?

by Spherical Me

Burnt-out? Over-committed? Frazzled? Short-fused? Chronically tired?

Then this is for you....

Pre-Holiday Workshop w/Amanda
Sunday 4 December, 10h30 - 12h30, Paris Yoga
40€

The end of the year can be a source of great joy coupled with anxiety and exhaustion.
End-of-year deadlines, over-consumption, over-spending, family obligations, colder weather, and travel challenges can lead to stress and illness. This workshop will focus on those poses and breathing techniques that can keep the nervous system regulated (keep your cool), boost the immune system (stay healthy), and encourage us to make sustainable choices in the flurry of this busy time (consume less, enjoy more).

Reservations required. Contact Joelle for registration ~ info(at)parisyoga.com

Atelier avec Amanda
Ressourcez vous avant les fêtes

Dimanche 4 décembre 2011 10h30 à 12h30

40 €

Cet atelier vous prépare pour la période de fin d'année qui peut-être à la fois joyeuse et remplie de stress. L'atelier sera focalisé sur les postures et les respirations qui équilibrent le système nerveux, vitalisent le système immunitaire et nous aident à faire des bons choix. Accessible à tous niveaux, à part grands débutants. Venir avec l'estomac léger et apporter une bouteille d'eau.