Effort & Ease:
1) The teaching of sthira and sukha goes back through history to one of the earliest written classic texts about the practice of yoga, The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali. The qualities of sthira and sukha are essential to ones yoga practice.
Patanjali stated in section 2, verse 46… sthira-sukham-asanam
Sthira: to be conscious, steady, alert, present, firm, stable
Sukha (m): to be relaxed, happy, gentle, at ease, comfortable, soft
Asanam: yoga posture, seated, being seated, way of sitting, place
Patanjali reveals that stira and sukha must be present to the same degree, in each posture, in order for it to truly be yoga.
Why is this important and how is it applicable in your daily life ?

2) Yoga is often refered to as a ‘mind, body, spirit’ practice. Some proclaim a heightened sense of spirituality arises with their yoga practice. Others find that yoga conflicts with their spiritual or religious beliefs. Please discuss Yoga as a spiritual practice, is it a religion….does it enhance your spirituality or does it conflict with your faith based beliefs?

3) The Ayurvedic system originated in India more than 5,000 years ago and is one of the oldest continuously practiced health-care systems. It views health as a dynamic balance and looks to all aspects of one’s life, such as nutrition, natural medicines, exercise, rest, emotions, and lifestyle. Included in this science is the explanation of the subtle body or energetic anatomy ( chakra, koshas, nadis, prana flow). The dynamic balance needs to be achieved in all aspects of a person’s life – physical, biochemical, neurological, intellectual, emotional, behavioral, spiritual, familial, social, environmental, and even universal. Describe a scenario where you are treating a physical injury and emotional hurt w/ modified yoga postures and ayurvedic insights.

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A breathe along.

Led by Katryn Norval, Cherie’s Columbia College Yoga Level 2 students, become a moving yoga sculpture.  The movements are like the mechanical pieces in a fine tuned machine.  All must fit and work together for  the motor to hum.

Within that inner space we explore our vulnerability & strengths. We see how far we can stretch, how deep we can breath, how steady we can balance, how present we can be. We struggle with patience and acceptance. We balance effort and ease. We learn to see ourselves without judgement, we move closer to our true selves and we begin to love who we are, who we truly are. Once we see the good within we can see the good in all.

Yoga, the natural process of integration ( Shiva Rea’s definition), takes time, it’s lifelong, if you believe in reincarnation it’s a many lives long process. It’s not hurried. A dedicated Yoga practice is the incubator for physical and spiritual growth. The 3 romances that incubated @ the loft were unhurried, they were allowed to grow as each individual evolved. Laura and Christophers romance incubated for more than a semester.

Matt Buckingham a rugged firefighter and Cassey Cook the sultry diva, both long time Sonora residents and Yoga Lofters, have been practicing in the same room for over 3 years. They “hooked up” early early Spring.

Jessica and Adam Robertson (married!) did not meet at the Love Studio but are involved in the Loft. Adam was a Columbia College student of mine as was Jessica. Jessica developed our Yoga Tots program and Adam became the Loft web designer. Their friendship started outside of the Loft but they studied their growing relationship with the skills they learned from Yogic self study. A little meddling on my part expediated them into the romantic phase. A teacher has to know when its appropriate to push a student out of their comfort zone!

Best wishes to all our lovers, namaste.

If you have any comments on your own Yoga romance leave a comment here.

and all is coming. ” This is a much cited quote from Sri Pattabhi Jois that has deep resonance for me. I started Yoga simply because it was offered at my gym and I was looking for a group exercise class to replace aerobics while my knee was on ice. Knowledge of the Practice quote , Sri Pattahbhi Jois and all things Yoga came later, as of course Jois predicted. What started as a pursuit of enhanced phsyical fitness became the pursuit of uncovering the spiritual heart .

Physical practice was easy. Naturally athletic and flexible it was easy for me to love the poses. Other elements of the Yoga practice such as breathing and sitting in silence were difficult if not painful . Slow exercises in non judgement self reflection were very new and disquieting to me. Lured by my adeptness in poses I conceded to the other components in class and before I knew what was happening, I was practicing, practicing, practicing….. and things started happening…..all was coming.

From my first Yoga Breath I began to move closer to my authentic self and my life began to improve. I learned to relax, to control my mind fluctuations ( or at least I learned to laugh when my mind diverted me from controling my fluctuations), to be less snippy, to be more helpful, to be more open. To share. To be part of something bigger than me. All was coming. The practice of the physical was my key into the world of Yoga. A huge universe of philosophy, physics, mystics, sages, subtle body, ayurvedic, amazing teachers, places and possibilitys My practice moved from something I did on a mat to something I did in life. From my Yoga practice sprang romance, home, job, community. Gratitude.

Sri Pattahbi Jois describes that the spiritual heart is surrounded by 6 poisons: desire,anger, delusion, greed, envy & sloth. Internal purification comes from posture, breathing and gaze and of course practice, practice practice…

All continues to come.