Catch up and Off Day

 I know, I know, I haven’t posted since day one! Well…its a little busy. So here is the basic class schedule every day:

7/7:30AM-4/4:30PM (With a few little breaks in there)

So these are some LONG days and we are constantly using our bodies, like man it is tiring! BUT it is so beyond rewarding. I am learning so much that I never imagined I could learn. I am doing things I never thought I would do. So here are a few highlights!

Kids Yoga Games! So when talking about basic body awareness we played a few awesome games that I am super excited to bring back and do with all the kiddos this fall! If you have a kid, I promise they will not want to miss my kids yoga classes when I get back, I am getting so many brilliant ideas that are so much fun, even though for me they are “learning games”…they are games! They will teach my kiddos about basic body awareness and get them laughing and having such an amazing time using and exploring movement in themselves and others! 

Iyengar Yoga…Ya’ll this is some hard stuff and we are really going through some poses, getting the break down and learning some amazing ways to go deeper into the poses. Wide forward fold will never be taught the same way in my classes again and you will be amazed, maybe your head will even reach the floor/block (without difficulty!). Simple cues/alignment that bring SO much to the practice. We did about 2-2 1/2 hours on forward folds and it was hard! Okay this is FORWARD FOLDS! Not usually the most difficult thing in the world but man when you start adding all of this stuff….AMAZING! You never know I may go a little crazy and dedicate myself to this practice guys, its that good. 

Mantras/Chanting, okay don’t freak out but I really may be adding a bit of this to my classes. I am falling in love with it! Falling in love with the language of Sanskrit, the meaning of these mantras, the amazing way that you can feel after either chanting them or just hearing the teacher open a class with one! It is so powerful in opening up things that you never though was possible and it is so simple. Think about when you sing your favorite song in the car, a powerful uplifting melody, how wonderful it feels to sing it at the top of your lungs, that is these mantras, once you understand the meaning of this ancient language. And you don’t have to chant them, you can always simply listen to them. They are beautiful and there are a TON if you look up mantra music on Spotify. But after you do, LOOK UP THE MEANING. Otherwise it is just a bunch of jibberish, you need to know the background of these beautiful things. 

Hiking! The most amazing day! On Thursday we had a silent morning. We did not talk from the time we woke up /went to bed (for me about 9pm/5am) until about 11am. 9 people got ready in a house without saying a word to each other, yet communicating. Hearing and seeing things that went unnoticed prior because we were too busy talking and interacting to see or hear. Then a 20 minute car ride, again in silence a hike/swimming/a new place/beautiful place in silence….well maybe a little laughter but no words! Journaling time where I actually wrote a short guided meditation…my first one that is truly mine! Not sure how good it is, but I did it, it came from my brain and from this experience. I am truly so grateful for this journey and I can not wait to see where all these people and myself end up at the end of this chapter of life! 

On the hike after talking/phones were back out and able to be used. 

Class work. 

The group after the hike. 

Philosophy on the beach. 

The swimming hole from the hike. (Taken on the way back when phones were allowed)

After class beachin’

Friday night ankle bracelet making. (Thank you Heather)

Sweet ocean time. 

Aloha 300 YTT!

 Aloha from Maui! Obviously this is not my normal blogging topic. I am not on a mission trip, but I am on an amazing journey that I want to document and have out there for myself and others at home. So welcome to a glimpse of my journey.

Day one of training, wow! I already feel like there is so much knowledge that I have gained from just this first session. Our day was broken down into Orientation, Anatomy, Mantras, Iyengar, and Methodology. We have people from ALL over! California, London, South Africa, Mongolia, Hawaii, Canada, West Virginia, Charlotte, New York. 

Most of our group at orientation. 

Anatomy, I know your probably thinking: No thank you, snoozefest….Not true at all. We had games, dancing, along with our learning. Bringing everything together to connect the dots in a fun and creative way. Who knew the Electric Slide could teach you so much about the planes of movement! 

Mantras, okay this may have been one of my favorite parts! The vibrations created when this group is chanting takes your breath away! We learned one simple mantra today and for real it brought so much confidence and many uplifting spirits to the entire group, AMAZING! Speaking/singing this ancient language is so powerful. 

Iyengar……yes. Powerful, challenging, feelings, difficult, wow….these are the words that come to mind. Such a special practice. Such a powerful practice, even when doing a pose as “simple” as tadasana (mountain). All ya’ll at home be prepared for some little adjustments that will rock your world and change our practice!

Methodology, I honestly don’t have a lot to say on this one at this point. It is probably one of the hardest areas for my personal practice. I look forward to this journey in learning and finding the ability to tap more into this. The pitta in me just doesn’t like to slow down enough to grasp this concept, but that is part of being here, learning and growing for self and for others. 

Day one and this truly is a life changing experience already. Day one and I am already tired. Day one and I know amazing things are coming. Day one. I cannot wait to see what is in store in the coming weeks and I hope that you will tune into and take this journey with me!

Studying with the help of notecards and Kona, one of the sweet pups here at the house. 

Who may I add had taken a liking to my bed. (Or well I got assigned to the bed she usually sleep in at least.) 

Now I am going to do the Kona and pass out.

 ✌🏼❤️🧘‍♀️

Randi