 ‘The Wild Heart’ Yoga retreat is right around the corner, and I’m excited and honored to be co-leading with the amazing Luna Castilho. A colleague at Sui Yoga, Luna has an incredibly inviting persona, a tender approach and a sensibility for the practice that is unique to her experiences and love for the history, science and energetics of yoga. Get to know her with this feature… and it’s only part one.
QUESTION: What is your favorite yoga pose/why? LUNA: “Savasana. Do I really need to explain myself? (laughing emoji) Savasana or corpse pose according to yoga traditions is the hardest pose of all yoga. It’s the moment of true surrender, it’s the moment you meant to truly quiet the mind and the body.. and that's extremely hard to do. As I started my yoga journey, I didn’t see any value in Savasana, and that used to be the moment when I started to plan the rest of my day. Nowadays however, if you leave me in savasana for a full hour, I’ll happily stay! It’s my moment of true surrender, to be truly with myself, truly present, truly here!” QUESTION: What is your least favorite pose right now/why? LUNA: “I was really into forearm stand and scorpio variation for a while, but currently practicing Mukta Hasta Sirsasana Six has been my guilty pleasure. Mukta means free. Hasta means hands. Mukta Hasta Sirsasana Sixs, is a free headstand pose, in reality the hands are fully extended in front of you with the palms facing up the sky.” QUESTION: What lessons from the yoga mat have you applied off your mat? LUNA: “Remembering to breathe and to play. I have always been an anxious person. I’ve always been a perfectionist, and the reality is that life is messy! Life will throw you on your knees, twist you and turn you upside down.. When we are in the midst of chaos taking a long deep breath can completely change how you react with whatever is coming your way. Remembering to play, to be silly, to be weird without being concerned about what others will think, can be deeply healing. Being fully yourself, laughing and dancing, remembering that we don’t need to be too serious, that life doesn’t need to be that hard! Just have fun! I find that the older I get the more and more the things that I used to do as a kid, are the ones who truly bring me joy! Be like a kid again! And don’t forget to take a deep breath!” QUESTION: Do you have a guilty pleasure/binge watch anything etc. (fave TV show or movie)? LUNA: “Who doesn’t love to binge watch a TV show?! I’m one of these people that can finish an entire season in one day. (laughs) I finished the entire 8 seasons of Game of Thrones in one month when I finally surrendered to the trend. Absolutely loved it! You can call me a nerd when it comes from TV shows, love superhero movies, any sci-fi, or anything that seems unreal or futuristic.. Very aquarius of me! But my one and only guilty pleasure is to sleep at the beach sunbathing with the sound of the ocean in the background. I can wait for our Retreat in Tulum!!” QUESTION: What is your post-class meal craving? LUNA: “Anything cold! A smoothie, açai bowl or even a gatorade! Anything to cool me off from the hot room and replenish my energies.” Follow Luna on Instagram HERE and check out her official website: HERE. Part two of our interview… coming soon. To secure your spot to our wonderful retreat, go here: https://suiyoga.com/retreats/ Tulum Mexico… from March 31 - April 6, 2024. Villa Pescadores will be our venue… lock in NOW!
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“The more the heart is sated with joy, the more it becomes insatiable.” — Gabrielle Roy  Certain core teachings of Yoga can forever shift the way you see the world in an acute way. “Joy is within you” is one of them. In the Yoga Sutra’s Chapter 1.33, Pantanjali gives us a 4-part process to help us clear our hearts of negative energies as a means for quieting our minds. Four keys to nurture joy within... Maitri [friendliness]: Kindness and friendliness to those who are happy, instead of being jealous and resentful of their mode. Rather than living with mental scarcity thinking one person’s happiness will cause us to run out of happiness we must appreciate their joy, realizing the potential for all of us to be happy at the same time. Karuna [compassion]: Compassion for those who are in pain, those that are suffering including yourself. The practice means no longer self-sabotaging oneself nor catastrophizing but instead learning how to self-comfort. It implies you see yourself as deserving of compassion. This applies outwardly as well, that we cannot choose towards whom we have compassion but it is universal and unconditional. Mudita [joy]: Respect, admiration and honor for those who embody noble qualities. In practice this means eliminating envy towards those that are living honorable lives. We must genuinely celebrate achievements. This reminds us that we can be inspired by others' greatness to then be inspiring. We all have innate greatness. Upeksanam [equanimity]: towards those who hurt us. Peacefulness towards those whose actions oppose our values. Instead of choosing the “like” button or even the “dislike” button choosing neutral. There will be some people that purposefully will try to harm you or people you love. Your choice is not to engage them in a fight. You can simply stop struggling. This is where the idea of “would you rather be right or be happy” comes from. We encounter many people in life; Happy people (sukha), Unhappy people (dukha), Honorable people (punya), Malicious people (apunya)... Our approach, the way we cultivate and navigate through relationships, choosing to constitute a path that leads us to happiness cannot be shaken if we nurture ourselves with the above 4 keys. YOGA RETREAT -- VICYASA™ IN TULUM LET'S GO TO MEXICO! "The Wild Heart" retreat at Villa Pescadores in Tulum is right around the corner. Join Vicyasa™ & Luna Castilho March 31st - April 6th for daily yoga, excursions & much more. We'll have single rooms, shared rooms and loads of incredible options for dietary needs and anything to help your retreat one to remember. What else will we be doing? A temazcal ceremony... a welcoming ritual with a shaman guide. For registration, CLICK HERE. Sui Yoga will be handling the bookings. If you have any questions, please let me know. To check out the venue, see their instagram HERE. Would love to see you in Tulum. ON-DEMAND ACCESS ONLY Now you can subscribe to on-demand only and get access to our ever-changing archive of pre-recorded sessions. For $60 you get 30-days of on-demand accessibility. This package does not include live scheduled sessions. Upon payment, class access begins. PRIVATES: ONE-TO-ONE WORK! If you want to set up any private sessions or events, please contact me through email. You can learn more about privates: CLICK HERE! SINGLE CLASSES We've added single class purchases to our on-demand offerings. How does it work? A $17 payment will give you access to a single pre-recorded class with Victor or anyone on his staff. The private link with unique access code will give you entry to that class, which you can load anytime you want. You'll have 24-hours of unlimited access to that class. No refunds, returns and you must use that class within 24-hours of receiving it before it expires. You can request a teacher on our on-demand options... featuring Demetra Kentrotas (@d_meetch), Leanne McDermott (@leannerays ), Elinor Cohen (@elinorraerigby) and others. YOGA AT OHHHMMM LIVE VIRTUAL SCHEDULE: MONDAY: 2/26/2024 NO CLASSES TUESDAY: 2/27/2024 NO CLASSES WEDNESDAY: 2/28/2024 NO CLASSES THURSDAY: 2/29/2024 NO CLASSES FRIDAY: 3/1/2024 NO CLASSES SATURDAY: 3/2/2024 NO CLASSES SUNDAY: 3/3/2024 NO CLASSES *ALL CLASSES EST *SESSIONS 45/60 MINUTES *WAIVER STATEMENT: I understand that I must be in good physical health to participate in these classes, that my participation may cause an injury and that I should consult with my physician before I take a class. I am taking these classes at my own risk. I waive any claim for personal injury and any other damages that I may have against the school, studio and/or the teachers who are offering these classes. REGULAR RATES:(when submitting payment, in note section state email for delivery of services)
PAYMENT: VENMO -- @Vicyasa Paypal -- [email protected] NAMASTE, Victor Cotto www.YogaWithVictor.com Instagram: CottoVic Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™ HOW YOGA CAN MAKE YOU A HAPPIER PERSON  (This week's newsletter was composed by our dynamic on-demand teacher and full time writer Elinor Cohen. Check out her Instagram HERE and her amazingly empowering advanced & intermediate sessions on our on-demand archives.) Do you tend to feel happier after a yoga class? As it turns out, there’s real science behind that! Copious scientific studies have been conducted suggest that practicing yoga can actually make you a happier person. The physical and mental benefits of yoga stem from the way the brain reacts to the practice. This happens in several ways. First, it starts with relaxation. Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) is a neurotransmitter (aka your brain’s chemical messenger) that suppresses neural activity to prevent the brain from getting overly excited. By doing this, GABA controls how much fear, stress, anxiety or nervousness you’ll feel in a given situation. Research shows that yoga can increase your GABA levels by 27%. Then there’s the direct impact on the Happiness Hormones, aka dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins. These hormones consistently get released during yoga at greater levels than with many other activities. This could be due to the mind-body connection and yoga’s focus on more than just physical exertion. Next up is the stress element, specifically stress reduction. This comes from certain parts of the brain slowing down during yoga. The frontal lobe, the part that’s responsible for thinking, planning, and reasoning, takes a backseat during the yoga practice. This is what allows your brain to feel like it’s taken a mini vacation. The parietal lobe, which handles all the information coming from the senses (sights, sounds, observations) is also signaled to be less activated when it trusts that it’s in a safe environment (i.e., your favorite yoga class). Finally, the two major stress hormones that get activated on a regular basis for many of us (cortisol and adrenaline) are encouraged to pump the breaks. Cortisol and adrenaline are useful for keeping us safe in high-stress environments, but yoga isn’t supposed to be that. Finding peace and solace in your yoga practice can help you regulate your cortisol levels and operate at a more balanced equilibrium. So is yoga the key to happiness? It could be! Greater relaxation, less stress, and a better mental state overall sounds like a pretty happy life. YOGA RETREAT -- VICYASA™ IN TULUM LET'S GO TO MEXICO... "The Wild Heart" retreat at Villa Pescadores in Tulum is official and more than half the rooms have been sold. Join Vicyasa™ & Luna Castilho March 31st - April 6th for daily yoga, excursions & much more. We'll have single rooms, shared rooms and loads of incredible options for dietary needs and anything to help your retreat one to remember. For registration, CLICK HERE. Sui Yoga will be handling the bookings. If you have any questions, please let me know. To check out the venue, see their instagram HERE. Would love to see you in Tulum!!! SUI SOCIAL FLOW
On Saturday February 24, Sui Yoga will be celebrating the final leg of our 21-Day Yoga Challenge with a "Social Flow." An intimate community class led by Victor Cotto, we begin with shared introductions followed by a 45-minute Sui Soul Flow. Our yoga practice ends with a closing meditation and optional time for socializing afterwards, with post-class socializing in the studio and at the cafe. Connect with your community at this playful and meaningful experience. Oh... we will have live music for the class! On this day we will celebrate the 21-Day of Devotion Challenge!! To secure your spot, pre-register for class HERE. ON-DEMAND ACCESS ONLY Now you can subscribe to on-demand only and get access to our ever-changing archive of pre-recorded sessions. For $60 you get 30-days of on-demand accessibility. This package does not include live scheduled sessions. Upon payment, class access begins. PRIVATES: ONE-TO-ONE WORK! If you want to set up any private sessions or events, please contact me through email. You can learn more about privates: CLICK HERE! SINGLE CLASSES We've added single class purchases to our on-demand offerings. How does it work? A $17 payment will give you access to a single pre-recorded class with Victor or anyone on his staff. The private link with unique access code will give you entry to that class, which you can load anytime you want. You'll have 24-hours of unlimited access to that class. No refunds, returns and you must use that class within 24-hours of receiving it before it expires. You can request a teacher on our on-demand options... featuring Demetra Kentrotas (@d_meetch), Leanne McDermott ( @leannerays ), Elinor Cohen ( @elinorraerigby) and others. RACHEL NEVILLE PHOTOGRAPHY/MOTION Storytelling through images, moments captured that detail emotion, and intention chronicled with a professional presence is with a dear friend and dedicated yogi Rachel Neville can provide for you. If you are a yoga teacher, dancer, performance personnel and need marketing images that will accentuate your portfolio, go to www.RachelNeville.com for your needs. You can find her amazing work on Instagram: HERE. Whether it is finding the best palette, lighting or creating a creating, joyful and fun environment to get the shot you need, check out Rachel at her Long Island City studio. YOGA AT OHHHMMM LIVE VIRTUAL SCHEDULE: MONDAY: 2/19/2024 NO CLASSES TUESDAY: 2/20/2024 NO CLASSES WEDNESDAY: 2/21/2024 NO CLASSES THURSDAY: 2/22/2024 NO CLASSES FRIDAY: 2/23/2024 6:30 am -- Sunrise 45 Vinyasa SATURDAY: 2/24/2024 NO CLASSES SUNDAY: 2/25/2024 NO CLASSES *ALL CLASSES EST *SESSIONS 45/60 MINUTES *WAIVER STATEMENT: I understand that I must be in good physical health to participate in these classes, that my participation may cause an injury and that I should consult with my physician before I take a class. I am taking these classes at my own risk. I waive any claim for personal injury and any other damages that I may have against the school, studio and/or the teachers who are offering these classes. REGULAR RATES:(when submitting payment, in note section state email for delivery of services)
PAYMENT: VENMO -- @Vicyasa Paypal -- [email protected] NAMASTE, Victor Cotto www.YogaWithVictor.com Instagram: CottoVic Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™ “You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” - Buddha  Valentine’s Day is often purely seen as an opportunity to express affection for a significant other. But if we take the emphasis off externalizing love and instead internalizing it, the day could be much more fruitful for everyone. It can be easy to send love to others. But it can be a different story when it comes to ourselves.. The rewards of investing in self-love offer far more potential benefits than focusing your energy on another person. The wonderful thing is that there are various evidence-based means to achieve a state of self-love. Self-compassion is offering as much love and kindness to yourself as you would a loved friend. Practicing self-compassion is scientifically proven to enhance emotional wellbeing. Living in a state of high self-compassion can help reduce stress and increase calmness. You can enjoy healthier relationships as you find these qualities more easily in yourself. In addition, you may find yourself less prone to procrastination and more focused and productive. The deep state of relaxation resulting from Yoga and meditation calms the central nervous system and generates wellbeing. This state of wellbeing is vital for achieving a higher state of self-love and self-care. One of the potential benefits of a Yoga asana practice is that understanding your body can help change your relationship with it and yourself. So make Valentine’s day a day of feeling good by doing a range of activities that make you feel content and happy to be alive whether you’re single or not... and be self-loving first and foremost instead of trying to direct your energy onto others. YOGA RETREAT -- VICYASA™ IN TULUM LET'S GO TO MEXICO... "The Wild Heart" retreat at Villa Pescadores in Tulum is official and half the rooms have been sold. Join Vicyasa™ & Luna Castilho March 31st - April 6th for daily yoga, excursions & much more. We'll have single rooms, shared rooms and loads of incredible options for dietary needs and anything to help your retreat one to remember. For registration, CLICK HERE. Sui Yoga will be handling the bookings. If you have any questions, please let me know. To check out the venue, see their instagram HERE. Would love to see you in Tulum!!! ON-DEMAND ACCESS ONLY Now you can subscribe to on-demand only and get access to our ever-changing archive of pre-recorded sessions. For $60 you get 30-days of on-demand accessibility. This package does not include live scheduled sessions. Upon payment, class access begins. PRIVATES: ONE-TO-ONE WORK! If you want to set up any private sessions or events, please contact me through email. You can learn more about privates: CLICK HERE! SINGLE CLASSES We've added single class purchases to our on-demand offerings. How does it work? A $17 payment will give you access to a single pre-recorded class with Victor or anyone on his staff. The private link with unique access code will give you entry to that class, which you can load anytime you want. You'll have 24-hours of unlimited access to that class. No refunds, returns and you must use that class within 24-hours of receiving it before it expires. You can request a teacher on our on-demand options... featuring Demetra Kentrotas (@d_meetch), Leanne McDermott ( @leannerays ), Elinor Cohen ( @elinorraerigby) and others. YOGA AT OHHHMMM LIVE VIRTUAL SCHEDULE: MONDAY: 2/12/2024 NO CLASSES TUESDAY: 2/13/2024 NO CLASSES WEDNESDAY: 2/14/2024 NO CLASSES THURSDAY: 2/15/2024 NO CLASSES FRIDAY: 2/16/2024 6:30 am -- Sunrise 45 Vinyasa SATURDAY: 2/17/2024 NO CLASSES SUNDAY: 2/18/2024 NO CLASSES *ALL CLASSES EST *SESSIONS 45/60 MINUTES *WAIVER STATEMENT: I understand that I must be in good physical health to participate in these classes, that my participation may cause an injury and that I should consult with my physician before I take a class. I am taking these classes at my own risk. I waive any claim for personal injury and any other damages that I may have against the school, studio and/or the teachers who are offering these classes. REGULAR RATES:(when submitting payment, in note section state email for delivery of services)
PAYMENT: VENMO -- @Vicyasa Paypal -- [email protected] NAMASTE, Victor Cotto www.YogaWithVictor.com Instagram: CottoVic Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™ BETTY AND THE CAB: YOGA IN THE REAL WORLD  (This week's newsletter was composed by our dynamic on-demand teacher and full time writer Elinor Cohen. Check out her Instagram HERE and her amazingly empowering advanced & intermediate sessions on our on-demand archives.) Yoga shows up in everyday life, whether we ask for it or not. I’m going to tell you a short anecdote about an interaction I had with a sweet woman named Betty. This happened on December 27th, two days after Christmas. Cheer was still in the air, as was the misty fog left behind by the rainy weather NYC experienced. The streets were slippery and puddles were plentiful. As I rushed from one meeting to another, I noticed an older woman with a cane struggling to get off the sidewalk. I’d normally breeze past someone like this (after all, who has the time?!) but that day I decided to turn around and ask her if she could use a hand. She looked up at me with big, grateful eyes and said she was just trying to cross the street to get a cab. I offered her my hand and said, “So let’s do that.” As we slowly made our way across the street, I learned that her name was Betty. She kindly asked about my Christmas and then proceeded to tell me that hers was just as pleasant; she spent it with her grandkids and the whole family put on their annual 12 Days of Christmas play. Upon arriving at the other side of the street, I quickly hailed a cab and held Betty’s cane and bag as she hoisted herself up inside the vehicle. She was incredibly thankful, as was I. I walked away from that interaction with a sense of pride, but not necessarily because I had done a good deed. Sure, that was part of it, but more importantly I felt like I understood something. “Ohh,” I mused. “That’s why.” That’s why I do yoga. That’s why I keep myself strong. That’s why it’s important to work on strength and mobility, both in body but also in mind. It’s not so I don’t end up like Betty because the truth is that anyone can end up needing a cane, aged, injured, or not. I do all these things, the chaturangas and the warrior poses, so I’m physically strong enough to offer an older woman a helping hand. Moreso, it’s so that she can trust that she’ll be safe as I guide her across the street. That’s what the yoga is about. I encourage you to ask yourself how yoga shows up for you in the real world in your own life. If it isn’t apparent right now, that’s perfectly fine. Just stay open to the opportunities that present themselves, because they will, and when they do you’ll be better for recognizing them. YOGA RETREAT -- VICYASA™ IN TULUM LET'S GO TO MEXICO... "The Wild Heart" retreat at Villa Pescadores in Tulum is official and half the rooms have been sold. WE ARE EXTENDING OUR EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT SPECIAL JUST FOR YOU -- CONTACT ME TO SECURE THAT DEAL. CLICK HERE FOR INFO. Join Vicyasa™ & Luna Castilho March 31st - April 6th for daily yoga, excursions & much more. We'll have single rooms, shared rooms and loads of incredible options for dietary needs and anything to help your retreat one to remember. For registration, CLICK HERE. Sui Yoga will be handling the bookings. If you have any questions, please let me know. To check out the venue, see their instagram HERE. Would love to see you in Tulum!!! ON-DEMAND ACCESS ONLY
Now you can subscribe to on-demand only and get access to our ever-changing archive of pre-recorded sessions. For $60 you get 30-days of on-demand accessibility. This package does not include live scheduled sessions. Upon payment, class access begins. PRIVATES: ONE-TO-ONE WORK! If you want to set up any private sessions or events, please contact me through email. You can learn more about privates: CLICK HERE! SINGLE CLASSES We've added single class purchases to our on-demand offerings. How does it work? A $17 payment will give you access to a single pre-recorded class with Victor or anyone on his staff. The private link with unique access code will give you entry to that class, which you can load anytime you want. You'll have 24-hours of unlimited access to that class. No refunds, returns and you must use that class within 24-hours of receiving it before it expires. You can request a teacher on our on-demand options... featuring Demetra Kentrotas (@d_meetch), Leanne McDermott ( @leannerays ), Elinor Cohen ( @elinorraerigby) and others. YOGA AT OHHHMMM LIVE VIRTUAL SCHEDULE: MONDAY: 2/5/2024 NO CLASSES TUESDAY: 2/6/2024 12:00 pm -- Flow Yoga WEDNESDAY: 2/7/2024 NO CLASSES THURSDAY: 2/8/2024 12:00 pm -- Flow Yoga FRIDAY: 2/9/2024 6:30 am -- Sunrise 45 Vinyasa SATURDAY: 2/10/2024 NO CLASSES SUNDAY: 2/11/2024 9:00 am -- Vinyasa Yoga *ALL CLASSES EST *SESSIONS 45/60 MINUTES *WAIVER STATEMENT: I understand that I must be in good physical health to participate in these classes, that my participation may cause an injury and that I should consult with my physician before I take a class. I am taking these classes at my own risk. I waive any claim for personal injury and any other damages that I may have against the school, studio and/or the teachers who are offering these classes. REGULAR RATES:(when submitting payment, in note section state email for delivery of services)
PAYMENT: VENMO -- @Vicyasa Paypal -- [email protected] NAMASTE, Victor Cotto www.YogaWithVictor.com Instagram: CottoVic Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™ |
AuthorVicyasa™, your full-time dopamine dealer ... don't allow my confidence to offend your insecurity. Archives
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