| Join Our List
|
|
|
|
|
Namaste!
A friend loaned a Netflix movie to me called The Weeping
Camel. It's a documentary made by the
National Geographic Society that takes place in the southern Gobi Desert of
Mongolia. And this little village is
just east of the Middle of Nowhere. Truly.
The film opens to village life: these nomads living in
yurts, in an incredibly harsh environment (as much as I love to romanticize
this "simple" life), with their families and animals. And the long and the
short of it is this: Mama camel has a
baby. The colt is white (auspicious) and the last to be born in the herd after
a long and difficult labor. Mama camel
rejects her baby.
The villagers do all they can-- including chanting,
ceremonies and the creation of small camel totems-- to "force" the bond, but it's
not happening. So they send two little
kids on horseback miles and miles to the nearest town to fetch batteries and
the local music teacher. (I'm
serious).
A couple of days later (he's very busy)
the music teacher turns up at the village. All the locals gather and bring round Mama and her unloved colt. (Mama is still spitting on it). The music teacher hangs his violin-esque
instrument around Mama's neck while she fusses and fights, spits and moans. After a while, he takes the instrument back
and starts playing, while a woman croons along. It's actually quite mesmerizing.
After the prescribed stanzas and verses, Mama camel is, truly, weeping. And immediately after, she and the colt bond,
she allows him to nurse, and all is again right in the universe.
What do we know or understand about this world, really? Maybe it's true... anything IS possible.
I love
this.
Peace,
Jill |
The Sacral Chakra
| | The Second Chakra: Home of Your Passion
The Sanskrit name for the second chakra is "Svadhisthana," which means "dwelling place of the Self." Located in the lower abdomen, about an inch below your navel, the second chakra is often associated with the hips, sacrum, lower back, genitals, womb, bladder and kidneys.
Home of our passions, the Sacral Chakra governs  the emotional and sensual aspects of our lives, such as sensuality, sexuality, emotions, intimacy and desire. All of our watery features and functions as humans have to do with this chakra -- circulation, urination, menstruation, orgasm and tears. As such, a healthy second chakra allows us to flow, move and change.
A deficient (imbalanced) second chakra might be caused by a childhood where emotions were denied, manifesting as fear of pleasure, being out of touch with our feelings or resistance to change. Signs of an overactive second chakra may be overly emotional behavior, sexual addiction or poor boundaries.
A healthy second chakra encourages us to feel the feelings that arise as we open to life as it happens. If we allow ourselves to accept what is, we taste both the sweet and bittersweet flavors life has to offer. You may notice that when you relax your resistance to life, your hips release, your reproductive organs become less tense, and you are more open to experience your sensuality and sexuality.
In yoga practice, second chakra asanas help with receptivity and adaptability. Hip and groin openers, like forward and backward bends, squats, baddha konasana and open angle poses all provide freedom of movement in the pelvis. These hip and groin openers require sensitivity and surrender and should never be forced.
|
Our Teachers
| |
Meet Anisha Desai
Favorite Asana: I love Pigeon ... actually, I love the release after Pigeon!! I also love the heart opening in Camel pose.
Little Known Facts About Me: I was born in Australia. In addition to teaching yoga, I am also an Acupuncturist. When I was little, I wanted to be either a secret agent or an astronaut (anything that involved high adventure and risk!).
 Words That Describe My Class: soulful, inspiring, creative, deep and revealing ... We always end with a deep relaxation to integrate the practice! You might even leave with a sense of your own true essence...
Who Inspires Me: My mother's courage, my husband's thoughtfulness and intelligence, my students when they have an "aha" moment and when they look so content in savasana.
Favorite yoga music: Reema Datta, Bija, Snatam Kaur
Favorite yoga book: readings from One Soul by Danna Faulds
Favorite Quote: "Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it." ~Rumi
Why I love blue lotus: The community at blue lotus is so open, warm, real and inviting. I am so blessed and grateful to be a part of such a generous group of people!
I knew I loved yoga when: I cried all through savasana and felt amazing afterward!
My Classes:
Gentle Yoga (open to Prenatal) ** New Class**
11:30 am-12:45 pm, Wednesdays
Beginning July 14
This class is a gentle mix of Anusara and Kripalu yoga, uniquely blending safe alignment principles, heart-centeredness and meditation in movement. We'll revitalize the body with breath work and gentle stretches, and then move into a series of poses to open less attended to areas in the body. This invigorating and rejuvenating practice welcomes all levels, including expectant mothers.
Free Community Class
2:30-3:30 pm
Saturday, July 24
|
Kids Yoga!
| | August Camp PLUS New Classes this Fall!
Yoga, Art & Service -- Kids Camp in August
It's never to early to learn about yoga and how good it is to serve others. Kids ages 7 to 11 are invited to move with their bodies, create with their minds and serve others with their hearts during this week-long camp, held 1:30-4:30 pm, August 2-6. Class size is limited to 10, so preregistration is recommended online at the Workshops tab.
***
Tuesdays are for Little People this Fall!
We're very excited about the positive response to our Kids Yoga so far this year and are happy to extend more practice opportunities to the younger set in our blue community. Please register in advance for the Kids Yoga sessions listed below!
Kids Yoga for Ages 3 to 5
1:00-2:00 pm, Tuesdays
10-week series
September 7 - November 9
It doesn't take much to get this age group moving, so take advantage and channel that energy in a positive direction. This yoga and creative movement series will help to enhance self-awareness and build confidence through practicing yoga poses, playing games and listening to stories and music.
Kids Yoga for Ages 5 to 9
4:00-5:00 pm, Tuesdays
10-week series, September 7 - November 9
We know kids benefit from yoga. They feel relaxed, gain confidence, and improve strength and flexibility. Most importantly, though, young students can begin early to understand the power of their breath to help them when they feel sad, mad or scared. Each week of the series we will playfully move through a flow class that will include a creative guided meditation, breathing techniques for children, yoga poses and final rest.
Mama-Baby Yoga
11:30 am-12:30 pm, Tuesdays
Bond with your (pre-crawl!) baby and other moms while receiving the benefits of an open level yoga flow class including postures, breath work and meditation. Bring baby blankets! This ongoing class is drop in /pass card friendly.
|
Summer of Service Continues!
| | Fence Build for Jax July 25
Lucky Lady got the fence she's dreamed of in her doggy dreams, but we were the lucky ones that Sunday, as we all came together in our first active service project during our Summer of Service. Working with the Coalition to Unchain Dogs, we helped build a new outdoor Raleigh home for sweet Lady.
For more photos of the build and  Lady (pictured right), visit our Facebook photo album.
We had such a great time, we're doing it again ~ this time for Jax in Raleigh.
 According to our friends at the Coalition, Jax is a young pit/boxer mix, and he is 200% GO! all the time. His family is really nice too!
Once again, the Karma Yoga -The Practice (by donation) will be from 8:00-9:30 am, followed by Karma Yoga - The Build at 10:00 am. Details can be found on the scheduler.
Read more about Service on our blog!
|
| July Workshops & Events | | We've got some great workshops below, plus all your favorite special classes this month like Juicy Flow, Deep Stretch, Rock Flow and Vinyasa L2/3! With regular teachers on vacation here and there, you have lots of opportunities to check out different classes and teachers this month. It's all on the scheduler!
July 4 Classes
Kriya Practice with Yvonne
9:30-11:00 am
Freedom Flow (open level vinyasa) with Jill
2:30-4:00 pm
The Play of Masculine & Feminine;
The Tantric Principles in Ashtanga Yoga with Gabriel
Part 1: 6:30-9:30 pm, Friday, July 9
Part 2: 12:30-3:30 pm, Saturday, July 19
Gabriel Azoulay discovered the work of David Deida in 2005 and has been weaving his teachings into his practice ever since. We will explore:
*what is the polarity of masculine-feminine and how does it affect our
relationships and career
*Deida's 3 stages and how practice is an Art form
*how to use the body to
express trust and openness
*how to relax in the midst of life's fears
*breathing techniques to enhance energy between you and the world
*practices to improve your relationships to your partner, your work, and your
life
The full schedule for this Workshop is online.
Yoga Foundations Six-Week Series with Julee
Sundays!
12:30-2:00 pm, July 25, August 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Free Community Yoga!
Please be sure to pre-register online for these free classes. Space is limited, and classes are often full.
10:00-11:00 am, Saturday, July 3
6:00-7:00 pm, Sunday, July 18
2:30 - 3:30 pm, Saturday, July 24
Coming in August . . . Workshop with Warren in Atlanta!
Friend of the studio Warren Grossman returns to the South, this time to Atlanta. On August 14 & 15, check out this opportunity to experience greater awareness of the Earth's inherent energy and how to draw upon it for healing. Complete details here!
Visit the online scheduler for the complete blue lotus schedule and to register for classes and workshops! |
|
Join me and my friends at the blue! | | |
 
|
|
|
|
|
