Finding Stillness in the Ordinary

Finding Stillness in the Ordinary

It’s a five hour drive from my home in Pottstown Pa, to the town where I grew up. My 3 boys and I make the trek often and have the trip down. We know a variety of restaurants along the way, which exit has a gas station, when we are half way etc. Let’s just say we hit the road on auto-pilot. After a long drive through the rain on Thursday we decided to stop at a trail head for a bike path that runs through the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. This is about an hour from Grandmas house and was recently discovered on my last one on one trip with my middle son. Despite the lingering rain we decided to get out and stretch. We headed through a clearing in the bushes to get to the river. The boys were thrilled to be out of the car and near water. I was happy to stretch my legs and shake the feeling o f grogginess from driving. The boys happily gathered rocks and tried to see if they could throw one and then immediately throw a second to land in the ripple of the first. The boys played while I took in the surroundings and immediately began to breathe. Not just breathe, but mindfully, completely clearing my mind of the driving agenda, the rain, and the fatigue. I folded into a forward bend and felt a deep sense of peace in that moment, I felt complete stillness. The sounds and laughter of the boys, the rocks hitting the water were all in the periphery. I felt complete peace in that moment, exactly what I like to encourage while teaching pranayama and meditation. We headed back to the car, the rain finally ended and I’d like to say there was peace for the rest of the drive. That wouldn’t be realistic. There was still some bickering over the card game “Bull.” This time my reaction to them was different. I didn’t turn and say ‘knock it off’ or the classic from childhood “I can stop this car” I took it in stride and so did they.
So often in class I encourage students to find moments of silence throughout their day. I find myself saying “Five minutes of mindful breathing everyday can make each day so much better” And on Thursday after a long drive I felt bliss in an ordinary moment of mindful breathing.

Shoulder Stand and Other Joys of Yoga

Shoulder Stand and Other Joys of Yoga…..

Rewind, back to my teacher training. My yoga instructor Mike, always reminded me never to turn my head during shoulder stand. We were in a modified shoulder stand using the wall for support and he said something to another student. I immediately turned my head thinking he was talking to me. Of course he wasn’t, and I heard a pop in my neck. I came out of the pose and was fine, a little sore, but fine. Shoulder stand is now on my list of poses I don’t enjoy.

Fast Forward, to Saturday. I taught a free class as part of the Pottstown First Saturday Series. The class was gently underway and coming up the stairs I heard kid’s voices. The door opens and in to the class enters my friend Anne along with 3 of her 4 kids. A moment of panic set in…. I was thinking, I teach kid yoga and I teach adult yoga, but I’ve never taught them together! How am I going to do this to make it graceful and fun for everyone?

The kids got on to their mat, and began to immediately settle into the practice. This was a class designed for adults and not at all like the kids classes I teach with frog pose, superman pose and lively upbeat music. I was impressed! The youngest yogi age 4 struggled getting into twists so just like any other student, I found a pose that could work for her. Rock Pose. As the practice winds down, I like to give students a choice of bridge, plow or shoulder stand. While demonstrating shoulder stand I heard “yes!” whispered from all three kids with great enthusiasm and looking toward the back of the room they were happily reaching their feet to the ceiling supporting their torso and loving it!!!

Those three little yogis taught me a lot yesterday morning. They reminded me about doing a pose for the love and fun of the practice. They reminded me about expectations for the students I teach and importantly how I parent my children and the expectations I have for them. Thanks for the lessons little yogis.

Namaste’

Welcome

Namaste’ and Welcome…… Many of you know I’m not up to speed on technology. I don’t consider myself a dinosaur… but close. I still have a pre-paid cell phone, never text; I don’t have an i-pod and wish I could navigate the computer better. I get by with the help of my 11 year old son and good friends I call and ask for help. Despite my limited technology skills, setting up a blog has always been appealing to me. I follow several blogs, My good friend Carrie has a local jewelry business called Hammi Jammi Jewelry and I love checking out her new pieces. I often peruse vegan blogs to find something to make for dinner and check out the blogs of friends that write about their family. It’s a fun way to stay connected and updated.

My intention for the High Street Yoga Blog is to update upcoming events, share my experiences with Yoga and post articles, websites, and videos relating to yoga.

When setting up the blogspot I thought the logical first entry should be the evolution of High Street Yoga, but as I’m not a linear thinker, that post will come later….

Namaste’
Barbara