Happy 2012!
Thanks for reading this blog, and there is now a new website to check out:
Yoga for the Long Run
Look forward to seeing you there!
cheers
Susie
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Friday, August 5, 2011
How Yoga Works – from Nukunonu, Tokelau
The wonderful book given to me by a friend as reading for our travels and time in Tokelau: ‘How Yoga Works’ by Geshe Michael Roach & Christie McNally, is proving to be very enlightening, and the story, with such gentle and kind words, has a great way of unveiling the Yoga Sutras.
The breakdown of How Yoga Works is perfectly paced, and ideal for students at all stages of the yoga path. I’ve just finished chapter 13 – Silent Sitting, and the metaphor used was plumbing! Basically you can ‘plumb’ the channels in the body to create health and strength in one of two ways: 1. By focusing on the outer body using asana practice to unlock physical conncetions; 2. By focusing on the inner body using the mind to create feelings of space and freedom. This makes so much sense I’m sure most yogis will understand how the two practices, combined with the breath can heal the body and mind.
The next chapter of the book is entitled Learning How to Sit, which suddenly seems very poignant. Last night we visited the house of a family who lost a child to a hereditary illness. When we entered the main living room, the family and a large proportion of the village were seated cross-legged on hand woven floor mats around the body. Paying our respects, we sat with the group singing songs for most of the evening. Leaving at the end of the night I felt humbled by the attitude and atmosphere of the village. It was a true lesson in learning how to sit – together, with compassion. And even though yoga was far from my mind at that very point, I now realise that compassion is the key to healing of every kind, including yoga.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Yoga on an atoll
Wow the last few weeks have flown by and with little internet access it's been tricky to update this blog.
Since leaving America Samoa we have now travelled to Tokelau, to the atoll of Nukunonu, a tiny coral spot in the South Pacific.
Yoga has been on my mind. Daily practice has been difficult but I've tried to fit in sun salutations and a few more asanas when I have the energy. During the first week I suffered from sporadic attacks of sickness, something I was prepared for knowing we would need time to acclimatise to a new part of the world, but it spent most of my already waning energy. Currently my body feels thankful for any supine poses that stretch out the spine and release tension in the hips.
Running is also on a back-burner. There is an ideal coral road I've spied that leads to the end of the atoll and will make the perfect route for an early morning run - apart from the stretch that passes the pig pens!! Once the energy levels are restored I'm going to give it a try.
Thankfully I'm reading a great book right now - How Yoga Works by Geshe Michael Roach & Christie McNally. It's a welcome insight to the teachings of yoga and is keeping the yoga section of the ol' grey matter stimulated :)
During yoga dips and energy lows how do you keep yourself motivated? Simple tips to keep things going are welcome!
Thanks - and I'll keep trying to update this blog more often!
Since leaving America Samoa we have now travelled to Tokelau, to the atoll of Nukunonu, a tiny coral spot in the South Pacific.
Yoga has been on my mind. Daily practice has been difficult but I've tried to fit in sun salutations and a few more asanas when I have the energy. During the first week I suffered from sporadic attacks of sickness, something I was prepared for knowing we would need time to acclimatise to a new part of the world, but it spent most of my already waning energy. Currently my body feels thankful for any supine poses that stretch out the spine and release tension in the hips.
Running is also on a back-burner. There is an ideal coral road I've spied that leads to the end of the atoll and will make the perfect route for an early morning run - apart from the stretch that passes the pig pens!! Once the energy levels are restored I'm going to give it a try.
Thankfully I'm reading a great book right now - How Yoga Works by Geshe Michael Roach & Christie McNally. It's a welcome insight to the teachings of yoga and is keeping the yoga section of the ol' grey matter stimulated :)
During yoga dips and energy lows how do you keep yourself motivated? Simple tips to keep things going are welcome!
Thanks - and I'll keep trying to update this blog more often!
Friday, June 10, 2011
Island Yoga
There really is a great sense of community in American Samoa. On Sunday most families go to church and then afterwards at home eat food prepared in the umu/ earth oven. The rest of the day is often spent catching up with relatives who live around the island. Families and villagers also look out for each other and provide support in times of need - without question.
I feel very lucky to have great neighbours in our village (who love volleyball), and the little yoga troop, which started at our house, is also going from strength to strength - quite literally. This week we've met twice, and are progressing through a range of poses to build confidence so that we can all continue to practice at home. The sense of community a small group of people can create, when all doing something they find worthwhile and enjoy is uplifting (as another YIOM blogger recently wrote about). I drove back after yoga last night in a state of bliss - totally relaxed whilst all the time dodging street dogs, pot-holes and ambling pickup trucks! Why else do we practice if not to feel so connected that everything melts away?
Practicing yoga at home alone, and then also with a group has made me realise that sometimes it is all too easy to become stranded on our own islands - we isolate ourselves - but really to learn and share, and contribute, we need to be out there building communities, looking out for each other. How great is it that yoga, running, volleyball and all these activities can help with that process?! Even online the blogging community and groups such as YIOM create a sense of community where thoughts can be shared and discussed.
Is your yoga studio or a particular class your community, or do you have other activities, 'things you do' in your life that create the time and space for interacting with others?
Namaste
I feel very lucky to have great neighbours in our village (who love volleyball), and the little yoga troop, which started at our house, is also going from strength to strength - quite literally. This week we've met twice, and are progressing through a range of poses to build confidence so that we can all continue to practice at home. The sense of community a small group of people can create, when all doing something they find worthwhile and enjoy is uplifting (as another YIOM blogger recently wrote about). I drove back after yoga last night in a state of bliss - totally relaxed whilst all the time dodging street dogs, pot-holes and ambling pickup trucks! Why else do we practice if not to feel so connected that everything melts away?
Practicing yoga at home alone, and then also with a group has made me realise that sometimes it is all too easy to become stranded on our own islands - we isolate ourselves - but really to learn and share, and contribute, we need to be out there building communities, looking out for each other. How great is it that yoga, running, volleyball and all these activities can help with that process?! Even online the blogging community and groups such as YIOM create a sense of community where thoughts can be shared and discussed.
Is your yoga studio or a particular class your community, or do you have other activities, 'things you do' in your life that create the time and space for interacting with others?
Namaste
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Butt or Bum?
Last night we hosted yoga at our house here on Tutuila, and it was a great!! It might sound corny but I feel really lucky to have met a wonderful group of people here, who all want to practice yoga and it has turned out to be the ideal way for me to put the theory and teacher training to use!
Yesterday, admittedly, I was alittle nervous. I have brought quite a few materials with me but not everything, so I delved deeply in to the notes, and thankfully realised I did have enough to put together a class that would hopefully leave people feeling happy and ultimately relaxed.
The group are a mix of Americans and English folk, from a range of states and places. We started in Sukhasana and moved through a variety of poses that included the Warriors, Eagle, and Bridge amongst others, and finally Savasana.
You would expect that teaching in the English language is quite straight forward and nothing to worry about, but in teaching, when articulation is paramount, indecision can leave people feeling confused especially (as I discovered last night) when it comes to talking about that part of our anatomy often left behind - the bum (if you're English), or butt (if you're American)! The glutes, bottom, buttocks or bum - whatever you choose to call it are often neglected literally and figuratively, but last night I just couldn't decide on which word to use! I needed to be consistent and so finally settled on 'glutes' as an overall description of the muscle group - but boy was my mind racing as to which word was most appropriate! Thankfully I don't think anyone really noticed apart from me since everyone left slowly and calmly - not rushing away from the confused teacher!
I'll be better prepared next time, however I'm sure there are more surprises ahead in the yoga world of terms and phrases! Have you ever struggled with certain words whilst practising or teaching? What were they and how did you cope?
Namaste
Suze
Yesterday, admittedly, I was alittle nervous. I have brought quite a few materials with me but not everything, so I delved deeply in to the notes, and thankfully realised I did have enough to put together a class that would hopefully leave people feeling happy and ultimately relaxed.
The group are a mix of Americans and English folk, from a range of states and places. We started in Sukhasana and moved through a variety of poses that included the Warriors, Eagle, and Bridge amongst others, and finally Savasana.
You would expect that teaching in the English language is quite straight forward and nothing to worry about, but in teaching, when articulation is paramount, indecision can leave people feeling confused especially (as I discovered last night) when it comes to talking about that part of our anatomy often left behind - the bum (if you're English), or butt (if you're American)! The glutes, bottom, buttocks or bum - whatever you choose to call it are often neglected literally and figuratively, but last night I just couldn't decide on which word to use! I needed to be consistent and so finally settled on 'glutes' as an overall description of the muscle group - but boy was my mind racing as to which word was most appropriate! Thankfully I don't think anyone really noticed apart from me since everyone left slowly and calmly - not rushing away from the confused teacher!
I'll be better prepared next time, however I'm sure there are more surprises ahead in the yoga world of terms and phrases! Have you ever struggled with certain words whilst practising or teaching? What were they and how did you cope?
Namaste
Suze
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
New Surroundings
It doesn't, and shouldn't matter where you do yoga, right? But just occasionally when we move, to a new house, or new area, the environment takes a little adapting to, which is only natural. The habitual practice of yoga in the same space may feel comforting, but essentially we need to challenge ourselves not to slip in to the "I know this" zone.
Adapting to a hot and humid climate, compared to the last few four months I spent in the desert has been interesting! A practice of any kind, vigorous or not leaves you sweating, maybe not quite like a Bikram or Hot yoga class, but nearly! The benefits are the same - increased suppleness in the warmth and feeling totally refreshed afterwards - cold water never tasted so good :)
The island we're living on is not conducive to running - due to undomesticated dogs (some might say wild!). They are a bit like Mexican dogs, just wandering the streets, doing their own thing, catching the breeze, scratching, chewing and also chasing people. The dogs are so territorial that a lonesome runner crossing their path makes for good 'game'. A few people do brave the dogs, but I've heard some nasty stories of yucky bites, so decided, somewhat reluctantly that this might be good time to skip running for a while and concentrate on yoga. But then I met someone at the weekend who offered to show me where the early morning runners trot around a 'dog-free' track! Bingo. Excellent, a new running-friend to meet up with, sans wild dogs. But meeting at 5am is something else I'm going to have to get used to...
In the mean time I found Pummel Vision, and decided to create a yoga-type-video as an extra challenge, which I was a little aprehensive about but it turned out to be a great posture checking exercise and also a lot of fun! Try it! Surprisingly the challenge has helped me settle in to my new environment and I'm finding the heat a blessing in disguise.
Have you ever had to adapt to a new home-practice yoga area, and did you ever use video to check your posture, or do you use other ways to check your posture?
Adapting to a hot and humid climate, compared to the last few four months I spent in the desert has been interesting! A practice of any kind, vigorous or not leaves you sweating, maybe not quite like a Bikram or Hot yoga class, but nearly! The benefits are the same - increased suppleness in the warmth and feeling totally refreshed afterwards - cold water never tasted so good :)
The island we're living on is not conducive to running - due to undomesticated dogs (some might say wild!). They are a bit like Mexican dogs, just wandering the streets, doing their own thing, catching the breeze, scratching, chewing and also chasing people. The dogs are so territorial that a lonesome runner crossing their path makes for good 'game'. A few people do brave the dogs, but I've heard some nasty stories of yucky bites, so decided, somewhat reluctantly that this might be good time to skip running for a while and concentrate on yoga. But then I met someone at the weekend who offered to show me where the early morning runners trot around a 'dog-free' track! Bingo. Excellent, a new running-friend to meet up with, sans wild dogs. But meeting at 5am is something else I'm going to have to get used to...
In the mean time I found Pummel Vision, and decided to create a yoga-type-video as an extra challenge, which I was a little aprehensive about but it turned out to be a great posture checking exercise and also a lot of fun! Try it! Surprisingly the challenge has helped me settle in to my new environment and I'm finding the heat a blessing in disguise.
Have you ever had to adapt to a new home-practice yoga area, and did you ever use video to check your posture, or do you use other ways to check your posture?
Yoga Flip from Susie Stephen on Vimeo.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
On the Move
At the moment I'm on the move, which is great. After three weeks in England, Hawaii, American Samoa and Tokelau are now on the cards. Running and yoga are both providing wonderful relief from sitting on planes for hours!
Just before I left England, and two weeks after the London Marathon, by brother decided he would like to celebrate his 30th birthday by taking part in a traditional English Fell Running Race in the Lake District - and our family, plus friends, all decided to join him.
A fell run consists of making your way up a big hill, reaching a check point at the top, then running back down. The fell race in question took us up to The Old Man of Coniston, where, thanks to the absolutely beautiful weather, the views from the top were incredible (normally I would say breath-taking views, but the steepness of the climb had already taken my breathing rate to new levels - off the scale).
Running back down a fell is not for the faint hearted, and it's not really running either, let's call it leaping, bounding, hopping or dropping - just like a mountain goat! I just about survived but since it was my first true fell race my legs, and quads in particular this week have been suffering from the downhill pounding and two days after the event DMS - Delayed Muscle Soreness set in. The best yoga pose I found to relieve the tension in my quads was Virasana, Hero Pose, and along with Child's Pose and Savasana - that was about all I could manage! Luckily my muscles heal pretty quickly and recovery is now well underway.
For the rest of this week I'll be reading and using my little Collins Gem travelling yoga book, which always comes in very handy - and next week I'll be writing from Tutuila - yoga on the move.
Do you have any yoga-travelling tips or stories?
Just before I left England, and two weeks after the London Marathon, by brother decided he would like to celebrate his 30th birthday by taking part in a traditional English Fell Running Race in the Lake District - and our family, plus friends, all decided to join him.
A fell run consists of making your way up a big hill, reaching a check point at the top, then running back down. The fell race in question took us up to The Old Man of Coniston, where, thanks to the absolutely beautiful weather, the views from the top were incredible (normally I would say breath-taking views, but the steepness of the climb had already taken my breathing rate to new levels - off the scale).
Running back down a fell is not for the faint hearted, and it's not really running either, let's call it leaping, bounding, hopping or dropping - just like a mountain goat! I just about survived but since it was my first true fell race my legs, and quads in particular this week have been suffering from the downhill pounding and two days after the event DMS - Delayed Muscle Soreness set in. The best yoga pose I found to relieve the tension in my quads was Virasana, Hero Pose, and along with Child's Pose and Savasana - that was about all I could manage! Luckily my muscles heal pretty quickly and recovery is now well underway.
For the rest of this week I'll be reading and using my little Collins Gem travelling yoga book, which always comes in very handy - and next week I'll be writing from Tutuila - yoga on the move.
Do you have any yoga-travelling tips or stories?
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