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First Dive
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News from Solstice Yoga Center
October 2014
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What's this uncanny feeling all over the body after a good swim?
Beside most of our bodies, beside clouds, beside the ocean where many live and some others die and many heal and some others are re-born... what is the nature of water and how it is connected to our souls?
I'm not there yet, but while I attempt to understand it with my core and grow more questions between my fingers I want to share a practice that has been helping me lots in my daily quest for balance: swimming as a yogi!
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Mariana Robles Martínez
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Not a scientific breakthrough here, but it is relevant because in my experience it has been glorious: it stabilizes my emotions, it dissolves crankiness and over-busy-related attitudes, it hydrates my energy and optimism, it helps me put my mindfulness practice back on track, it washes desires and it just feels like health feels.
It's such a joyous activity that I'm very hopeful about it's healing potential for people with different kinds of distress. Sure some research is needed here, but I can't wait to share my very first steps into yoga and water with the Solstice Yoga Center's community, so here we go:
It starts with an intention. As in yoga practice I set a purpose and dedicate the benefits of the practice right after entering the pool.
Then some centering: a few lines of very slow breaststroke (been doing 4 to 10, depending how active is the thought stream at the moment). Open Awareness here feels easy and natural thing to do first, since it's important to notice how your muscles are when warming up, notice if there's some rare sensation that deserves a closer look, and it helps to smoothly connect with the water temperature and pool environment. Open Awareness is defined as the opening of one's mind into a panoramic awareness of whatever is happening without a specific focus. We are just getting into the water flow and noticing the overall experience as we do some lines. 
Then the front crawl lines. As in Sun Salutations, I like starting by making my breath deep and rhythmic, while I start caring also for a correct alignment. Gradually more and more stretching comes. As in many asanas, it helps to focus for a while on integrating the opposite directions of arms and legs. A scissors kick with the legs very stretched to the back of the pool and the arms going the furthest forward feels really nice. Shoulders will be far from ears most of the time naturally, but in some other strokes it may be good to keep them in their place actively.
After this is all synch, I've been activating Mula Bandha and doing my best to get diligent about breath awareness. I do not recommend trying Ujjayi here, it's a disaster. I just keep inhaling by mouth and exhaling by nose but consciously and in sync with the movement.
When everything is flowing as a dolphin, I like to practice different objects of attention.
Resting my attention on bodily sensations and the caress of water is wonderful, but also choosing to focus on sounds is great. Personally when I have haunting planning thoughts or fire going on, it's feels easier to focus on sounds since the bubbles of expiration underwater are quite loud. Water sounds have a renowned calming effect, and once the inner noise is collected, it gets easier to enjoy the distant sounds beyond my own bubbles, letting in the oceanic sounds of the water as it remembers the sea.
The repetition of doing a same stroke for a long while feels good when adjusting our velocity and number of lines organically to our own present need of activating or calming one's energy. Yet if you like other swimming styles it could probably be also very beneficial to try them. I've been sticking to repetition for now, but at some point I'll try a yogi butterfly.
When I feel ready to go towards relaxation I do some slow breaststroke lines with open awareness and then the free lines.
Here you could so dive as a baby or a puppy... but if you are a shameless free spirit it can even better; like trying totally asymmetric free moves and please the un-stretched muscles demands, or try one-hand stands with no worry for the neck, or float as a corpse... experiencing less density of our bodies in water is highly convenient when it comes to inventing moves with no other purpose but to enjoy it.
Then shavasana. If you are lucky enough to have time and a place to do it safely, try shavasana right after a swim. The earth breathes differently then.
So that's it for now. Please be aware that this text comes from my personal experimentation, so if you give it a try do it on your own responsibility and be cautious to observe how it feels in you. As in any other practice, take good care of yourself.
All the best for the Solstice Yoga Center's community and Om Shanti!
Mariana Robles Martínez
@onaono
September 2014 |
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2 Brand New
Teacher Trainings in 2015!
with emphasis on
Restorative and Therapeutic Yoga
in Mexico and Spain
with Brigitte Longueville and David McAmmond
 | | David McAmmond teaching anatomy |
"Begin the adventure of a lifetime when you immerse yourself in the practice, study and teachings of yoga at the Solstice Yoga Center's Teacher Training, for four weeks in the Spring or Summer of 2015."  | | Brigitte teaching restorative yoga class |
The heart of these RYT200 programs is daily instruction and practice of meditation, pranayama and asanas. This is complemented with in-depth teaching of the integral aspects of yoga teaching: - Yoga Philosophy / Lifestyle / Ethics - Asana Practice - Pranayama - Meditation - Kriyas - Restorative and Therapeutic Yoga - Anatomy / Physiology - Teaching Methodology - Personal Teaching Experience  | |
2013 yoga teacher training graduates
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"Experience the Heart of Yoga
to Teach the Joy of Yoga"  Watch the Video
April 18 - May 16, 2015
San Agustinillo Beach, Mexico  A Gorgeous Location! This teacher training will take place at
"Las 3 Marías", a charming getaway in the beach village San Agustinillo, with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. Read more...  | |
Las 3 Marías, San Agustinillo, Oaxaca
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August 30 - September 27, 2015
Can Tallada, Bordils, Spain Can Tallada
At a 1 hour drive from Barcelona or 15 minutes from the beautiful old city of Girona, just on the edge of the ancient village of Bordils, lies the small estate Can Tallada.
A mansion of Spanish grandeur, with its towers, high ceilings, terraces, old water tower, fireplaces, traditional courtyard, painted ceilings, old magnolia trees, and floors of the Art Nouveaux era ... It is a place where the energy, reflection and rest come naturally. |
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Special Event!
Restorative Yoga Weekend with David McAmmond and Brigitte Longueville
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David and Brigitte teaching together
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November 29 - December 01, 2014
A WEEKEND ON THE BEAUTIFUL SAN AGUSTINILLO BEACH
Great food, stories, friends and the practice of yoga in a relaxed dynamic.
Brigitte Longueville and David McAmmond join their knowledge!
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Treat yourself to a relaxing Yoga Vacation on the Beach!
People from around the world have found Brigitte's 5-day Yoga Retreats a wonderful opportunity to relax, renew and rejuvenate themselves through the grace of yoga, the beauty of Mexico and the majesty of the ocean.
 | | view from my balcony |
Location:
Las 3 Marías - San Agustinillo Beach, Mexico
2014
December 16 - 21
December 21 - 26
December 26 - 31
2015
January 18 - February 2
February 4 - 9
March 13 - 18
March 26 - 31
March 31 - April 5
 | | sunrise on the Pacific |
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BackMitra Workshops
"The BackMitra is an amazing tool!"
The BackMitra is an effective tool which helps you to improve your yoga practice; especially in poses where openness of the shoulder area is required like Downward Dog, Shoulder Stand and Pincha Mayurasana.
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Presentation of the BackMitra at the 10th Yoga Conference in Mexico City
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Upcoming Workshops October 17, 2014 BackMitra Workshop with Brigitte Longueville - Yoga Lounge, Mexico City
October 18 - 19, 2014 Restorative Yoga Workshop with the BackMitra - Yoga Center Ek Ong Kar, Pachuca, Mexico
See the BackMitra Events Calendar
Become a certified BackMitra Teacher!
Join Sharon Abbondanza's BackMitra teacher training on November 7-9, 2014. More info...Stay Connected!
Check out the BackMitra Facebook Pageand BackMitra Google+ Page |
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Join Brigitte Longueville
for a
Rejuvenating Yoga Vacation
in Mexico
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Food for the Mind
By Stella Weller 
According to Consumer Reports, 80 percent of all adults suffer from back pain. For those millions, The Yoga Back Book offers a complete guide to back care with guided yoga stretches, exercises, and other relaxation techniques. Stella Weller's sensible approach offers a gentle yet effective way to spinal health without drugs or surgery.
The exercises in the yoga back book have been carefully selected to help heal problem backs. By following this easy course, readers will effect a gradual stretching, strengthening, and relaxing of the back, which can ease away the causes of back pain.
More recommended reading...
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Try this Fun Yoga Class!
 | | Fun Yoga Class - Wednesday - "Same but Different" |
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We are looking forward to seeing you!
The Solstice Yoga Center Team.
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May 2014
