Satsang with Lisa

"May you live all the days of your life."~Jonathan Swift

Ten years ago I fell in love with ashtanga yoga. I was already a dedicated yogini, 15 years of previous yoga and meditation experience. Iyengar, Hatha, Kripalu, Vinyasa, I loved them all.   Then I came upon ashtanga. It was rigorous, mindblowing and soul piercing! And though I came to Ashtanga later in life and found it very challenging, I was pretty much hooked from the start.

"Practice and all is coming" ~Sri K. Patabhi Jois

A couple of years later I felt a little more confident in the practice and wanted to share this wonderful yoga with my community. So I looked around for a teacher training and to my delight and good fortune found a Primary Series training with David Swenson not too far away at Kripalu.

I was afraid. I did not know what to expect. I was over 42, had no tattoos or body piercings and I was to miss my 9 year old's birthday day. Still, I went for it. It took guts, lots of tapas/discipline and faith/Ishvara Pranidanha.

"It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that they are difficult."~Seneca 

I learned much about the practice, more about myself and equally important a relationship was established between teacher and student. David Swenson takes the seat of teacher reluctantly as he is a humble man. (And I tend to be a shy/somewhat-guarded person, not one who easily risks rejection)  David teaches that the practice is the teacher, and of course he is correct, but in his humble way he minimizes his effect as guru. David is an extraordinary teacher, super-intelligent, wise, sincere, kind, a great communicator, practitioner, a beautiful spirit and very, very funny! It is hard not to love him. I did from the get go.

Upon the conclusion of the Primary Series TT, after much processing, tapas and svadhyaya/self-reflection, I was able to build the courage to ask David to come to the fledgling Om Sweet Om Yoga.  He was of course very kind and let me know that he was booked for the next two years but that I should stay in touch. Not to give up. And being the good and devoted student that I am, I listened, and never gave up.

As David is constantly traveling, I would do my best to catch up with him and sometimes Shelley too, whenever they were within 120 miles or so. And ahhhh, then I would get to check in with my teacher/s, practice and be in light. Not giving up, I would often ask again.

"Difficult things take a long time, impossible things a little longer." ~Andre A. Jackson

And when David and Shelley's travels by-passed this part of the world for some time I would reach out by email. Sending love and updates on my practice and teaching and the growing community of yogis/ashtangis at Om Sweet Om who already loved him and were waiting to meet him in person.

"There is no telling how many miles you will have to run while chasing a dream."~Anonymous

This is a true story of a dream come true. A parable, if you will, of a seed lovingly tended, growing into a tree with two trunks becoming over the years stronger and fuller and finally coming to fruition.  One of the trunks represents the ashtanga/yoga community of Om Sweet Om, the other devotion to practice and connection to guru.

Finally, one auspicious day, all was in the proper alignment and the beautiful being that she is, Shelley Washington created the time in their busy lives, and Om Sweet Om provided the space to be filled with our vibrant and dedicated yoga community to welcome our master teacher/guru David Swenson on Monday, May 16^th from 6-9pm. There is a Buddhist saying, "When the student is ready the master appears" I believe we are all ready.

There are no words to express the happiness I feel in this moment. My gratitude to you sweet yogis and yoginis who bravely choose the path of self knowledge and  breathe life into our walls every day, to my partner Gail Grossman for staying the course in the face of adversity and keeping the faith, to the exquisite Shelley Washington and phenomenal David Swenson for making this possible, and lastly to the late Sri K Pattabhi Jois, Guruji, who chose me, gave me courage to pursue all of my dreams, with one kiss after practice on an early NYC morning in 2005.

"All earthly delights are sweeter in expectation than is enjoyment; all spiritual pleasures, more in fruition than in expectation."~Owen Felltham

From Downward Facing Dog step the right foot up between the hands.  Place the back knee down on the mat (note that if the knee is sensitive you may put a blanket underneath) and point the toes coming onto the top of the back foot. Keeping the front foot in place, knee just above the foot, slide the left knee back until you feel a comfortable stretch in the front of the back leg and the groin. Hands may begin on the front knee. Lengthen your pubic and tailbone down, engaging the core, and bring the hands to the hips. Adjust the hips by bringing the right hip back and the left hip forward to actually square them forward.  Inhale and lift the chest and arms up bringing the palms and fingers to touch, (note that if you feel pinching in the shoulders or neck keep the hands apart) straighten the arms and move the shoulders away from the ears. Bring the gaze up toward the thumbs. If you are feeling comfortable and strong and could go further lift more through the upper chest and sternum and arch back bringing the arms back with you and allowing the gaze to follow the thumbs elongating the neck back.

Physical benefits: This pose builds core strength and flexibility in the groins and thighs. It is a major psoas stretch. It tones the arms and opens the shoulders and chest. When taken into a full expression it is also a backbend working the spinal extensors and opening the front body, expanding the lungs, and massaging the organs of the back body notably the kidneys.

Spiritual benefits: One feels uplifted and rejuvenated after practicing this pose.

Recipe of the Month 

Last Stop 

Dr Robyn Croutch and Dr Michael Schwartzstein from Back to Life Chiropractic are now offering

NEUROFEEDBACK - a drugless, non-invasive solution for symptoms related to ADD/ADHD, Insomnia, Anxiety, Migraines, Fibromyagsia and much more.

Complimentary evaluation with Dr Robyn and Dr Mike

Please come to informative talks with Dr Robyn and Dr Mike. 

Brain Core Therapy Talks Wednesday June 8, 7:30pm

Thurs June 9 1:00pm. RSVP 516-944-4469

Space is limited

David Swenson and Shelley Washington workshop Monday May 16^th 6-9pm

Registration in advance a must.

*Please Note!

New Location St Stephen's Church Main street Port Washington across the street from the Port Washington Public Library. You may park on S Washington St, Carlton St, Main St, Webster Ave and other side streets. 

 Click here to register for all events at Om Sweet Om

Featured Yogi

Geralyn (Geri) Ganzekaufer

Geri is mathematics teacher at Schreiber HS in Port Washington, a mother of three, and a dedicated yogini. Six years ago Geri took her first yoga class. She had received a special introductory coupon from Om Sweet Om Yoga in the mail and decided to finally give it a try. She had been wanting to try yoga for some time, to see what all the talk was about,  and that coupon was just the incentive she needed.  Geri says that she loved it from the start. Geri thoughtfully explains that in her opinion yoga is one of the few things that you can pick up later in life and feel steady improvement. She says that she fees younger in body and mind today than she did 6 years ago. Her balance, strength and flexibility have improved tremendously, plus she is calmer, more peaceful. And if that were not enough to keep her coming, Geri points out that she loves the energy of the classes and the sense of community that she feel at Om Sweet Om Yoga. It is a whole other part of my life, she marvels.

Geri takes at least 4 classes a week and really enjoys being in a place where people focus on being their best selves. She finds that as a result of her regular practice she is able to meet life with more equanimity. She doesn't get as ruffled as she might have when things don't go as hoped or planned. Geri feels that her yoga helps her to be a better parent, person and teacher. Her eyes fill with tears as she tells me that although she has always been a good and kind person and teacher, yoga has opened her heart and she finds that she has greater compassion for the suffering of others, in particular her kids/students in a hard place.