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Cheryl Thomas, RYT
www.cherylthomas.com yoga@cherylthomas.com 415-308-3377 |
Opening to grace, flowing with grace, the power of grace, grace-filled, steeped in grace, aligning with grace, abundant grace. The lovely Anusara teachers used to toss the word grace around (second only to the word "John", who ironically fell from grace) as often as Andy Rooney made us laugh.
Call me shallow or uninformed but I must admit, I don't really understand the meaning of "grace".
Yes, I looked it up in .0002 nanoseconds on Google and found that it means elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion or action and pleasing or attractive quality or endowment. Some synonyms are attractiveness, charm, gracefulness, comeliness, ease and lissomeness. Does this apply to my yoga practice?
Is God involved? GodGlorified.com says grace is a gift from God and goes on to state that if you write a song about grace it is almost certain to be chart topper. (Really?) And, that the majority of Christians have a misunderstanding of God's grace that could "very well lead them to the path of destruction". Ah, sounds like another example of some fear mongering by the "church. OK, I'm done going down that road.
Grace descends from the Roman gratia, and we find it in the Spanish and Italian words "gracias" and "grazie". For Romans, gratia had three distinct meanings: (1) a pleasing quality (gracefulness) (2) favor or goodwill (by the grace of God) and (3) gratitude or thanks (saying grace before a meal). So, putting gratia to work on my uttita hasta padangustasana (big-toe balancing pose, see photo), I should (1) try to look graceful (dang hard in this pose), (2) by the grace of God avoid tipping over, and (3) be thankful there's a cranberry scone and Chai Baba Chai waiting for me after class. Grazie!
My friend, colleague, and exceptional being, Rachel Lanzerotti, fills in the gaps in my quest for the meaning of grace. Her recent blog entry ( http://www.fiveriversyoga.com/2011/10) shares a quote from Lynn Ungar, in which she describes grace as "...moving with the flow of the river rather than against it. The river, the current of life, keeps flowing regardless of our choices. But we can choose to step into the current and float...." I love the "don't push the river" metaphor. It means to me not being haphazardly swept away, but consciously letting go of the uncontrollable and gracefully floating with the current. Rachel provides another way of describing grace in quoting Viktor Frankl, "Between stimulus and response there's a space, in that space lies our power to choose our response, in our response lies our growth and our freedom." I agree that if we look closely, maybe grace lives in that space.
Regardless of what Merriam-Webster or John Friend has to say about the meaning of grace, I've got a better feel for my own meaning. Maybe grace is the way we mindfully we slip and slide through life, neither grasping or hoarding or harming along the way. Now top it off with an Amarena cherry for deep gratitude for our fortunate lives.
*Article recycled from 11/6/11 with some updating and editing.
Want to read some of my previous articles? You can do it here. Enjoy.
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Did You Know?
Just Announced - 200-Hr Yoga Teacher Training right here in Petaluma. I'm honored to be on the faculty. See below for more info.
The SF-based, multi-located, Yoga Tree yoga studio, has inched north to Corte Madera. They'll have a grand opening on Friday, November 16, with free classes and DJ Drez and best of all, FREE classes 11/16-11/19.
Ashtanga Yoga Confluence registration is now open. If you're going, and I am, you'll want to register early. It sells out, especially the rooms at the Catamaran Hotel, at the special rate of $130.
Shoppers Alert. prAna is opening a SF store and is offering 50% off "everything" on Nov 17 from 2-7. It's on my calendar. Thanks Anne O'B for the heads-up!
The Yoga in Graton program is growing faster than the price of Lululemon yoga pants. We now have seven weekly classes, 2 Graton locations, 4-glorious teachers and lotta amazing students. Find us at www.YogaInGraton.com.
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JUST ANNOUNCED - Advanced Studies - Teacher Training Program
If you've ever considered taking a Yoga Teacher Training program, the stars have just aligned for you. Post Wellness by Design in Petaluma with the expert guidance of local legend, Tony Briggs, is holding a teacher training beginning in January 2013.
Do you wonder about the differences between teacher training programs? Good, you should. They are not all created equal. This program has teachers who I would (and do) seek out to train with "individually". So, a training that includes all of them is stellar. These are senior, seasoned, respected, local and international teachers. Who? Tony Briggs, Anne O'Brien, Richard Rosen, Ann Dyer, Ulrika Engman and more! And, I have the great opportunity to be included with this impressive group. I have been asked to present the Restorative Yoga module.
Maybe you don't want to teach, but want to extend your knowledge of the practice and learn more about the philosophy, anatomy and grounding in the principles of yoga. This is the perfect opportunity.
I know, life if busy and funds are short. They've made it easy and affordable. Classes will be on Friday evenings and Saturday and Sunday afternoons for 4 months. Want more info? Of course you do. Go to Tony Briggs's site at www.tonybriggsyoga.com. You can ask me any questions at cheryl@cherylthomas.com.
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 | | 2 Year Old Yoga Teacher |
They're Starting Young
Too cute. Enjoy Lincoln as he pulls his class together!
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 More Yoga Headlines
This Sunday's New York Times Magazines is entitled The Body Issue. And, yes, right there on the cover are 6 Canadians showing off their yoga moves. Unlike the the issue with the William Broad's article on yoga injuries that show "clowns" (really) doing jokey yoga poses, these are real live people. It's a mildly interesting human interest story about a present day Little House on the Prairie family who is enthusiastic about their (hot) yoga. |
 Ruby Needs a Home Maybe you can help. Mom and son lost rental due to foreclosure. They're trying to find housing with a pup is hard. Ruby needs a new family. She's 40 pounder who loves dogs, kids and cuddling. If you want more info, contact Hannah at hannahh@sonic.net. Thanks Hannah for your care and attention to our fellow 4-leggers. |
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RSA Animate - Changing Education Paradigms
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Changing Education Paradigms
If you're an educator, student or have a kid in school, you'll find this though provoking. Even if it doesn't apply to you, just the illustration alone is fascinating. Thanks Molly for the link.
"Creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson challenges the way we're educating our children. He champions a radical rethink of our school systems, to cultivate creativity and acknowledge multiple types of intelligence."
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Be Happy on Friday's
Instead of shots of tequila and fried artichoke hearts, spend your Friday happy hour moving and grooving at an all-levels vinyasa flow class.
I am honored and excited to be offered another class at Westside Yoga Studio. On Friday's from 4:30 - 6:00, we'll end each week with an energetic vinyasa flow class. Through building heat from the inside, we'll strip out the stress hormones from the day. A long rest at the end of class will reset our nervous system and prepare us for our weekend.
You'll be done at 6:00!! That'll leave plenty of time for dinner with friends, a movie or a relaxing evening with your pooch. Or, maybe a Chia filled Kombucha or that 100% agave margarita!
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Restorative Yoga 
I love the response of students to their first or second or hundredth restorative yoga experience. It's the moment when their nervous system shifts from "yikes!" to "ahhhhhh." They leave with relaxed shoulders and brightened attitude.
It's easy to forget that the body knows exactly what to do. The relaxation response is a built in function of our amazing central nervous system. We just have to let relaxation happen. I know, it seems impossible sometimes. Thus, the popularity of restorative yoga where we learn to put the body in positions and let it do it's thing.
Every Monday
7:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Westside Yoga, Sebastopol
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Get Your Girlfriends Together
It's fun to get friends together. Treat your friends to Yoga and Tea rather than Food and Booze. Inviting friends to come together for a Gentle or Restorative Yoga class is a perfect way to enjoy each other's company and do something good for yourselves. Many yoga parties end with tea or champagne and some munchies. Your friends will thank you!
Please call on me if I can help you book a private yoga class or answer any questions. I can be reached at cheryl@cherylthomas.com.
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Schedule of Upcoming Classes
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