“What you focus on grows, what you think about expands, and what you dwell upon determines your destiny.”  What is drishti? What does that mean? Why does the teacher constantly say that in class?
Drishti is a term that loosely translates to an area of focus, a place to look at during asana practice. A focused drishti offers balance in your yoga practice. Having a clear focus point when attempting Vrksasana [tree pose] can mean the difference between a strong steady pose or a wavering or falling moment(s). This focused view will help you find your center and connect with the stability within your own body. But there are layers to our drishti. On a mental level, begin to utilize your drishti and focused intention to re-establish yourself into the moment. When you are in a challenging posture, or if you start to feel a sense of mundaneness in your practice, you may notice that you have the desire to dissociate from the experience. Looking around the room to other practitioners, looking out the window, scanning the floor for stray hairs and dust can all help to take you out of the experience you are having within your body. What you are doing when you start to incorporate drishti into all of your postures—those that are old and familiar as well as those that are new—is training your mind to stay with the present moment. You are training yourself how to endure experiences as they are happening, even when they are slightly (or more than slightly) unpleasant. This builds up your ability to do this in life. The gift of focused, present attention in everyday life is invaluable in problem solving, communication and general living. Now you can take the concept of drishti and expand on it even further. The term can be translated to mean a point of view, intelligent vision, or to have a vision. This tool of drishti is one that can be used to help you create the life that you want to live, both on and off your mat. Now is time to put this powerful tool in action; whether asana, meditation, or life design practice. See how it transforms the monotonous into the divine and purposeful. 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: 6/30/2025 NO CLASSES TUESDAY: 7/1/2025 NO CLASSES WEDNESDAY: 7/2/2025 NO CLASSES THURSDAY: 7/3/2025 NO CLASSES FRIDAY: 7/4/2025 NO CLASSES SATURDAY: 7/5/2025 NO CLASSES SUNDAY: 7/6/2025 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:
PAYMENT: VENMO -- @Vicyasa Paypal -- [email protected] NAMASTE, Victor Cotto www.YogaWithVictor.com Instagram: CottoVic Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™
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“I wanted movement and not a calm course of existence. I wanted excitement and danger and the chance to sacrifice myself for my love.”  Summer is the time when we put plans into action. This is the season we are invigorated, feeling motivated and full of energy. The height of Summer is also the height of extroversion, and the time to embrace all that life has to offer. This is the time to say ‘yes’ to invitations, engage in projects at full capacity and dive into passions; travel and explore, and infuse as much fun into your day as possible.
Take a moment to reflect upon how much ‘fun’ you incorporate into your life – when was the last time you did something purely for the joy of it? When was the last time froliking and flirtations were on the forefront of your day-to-day life? If it’s been a while, journal ten things that you consider fun, that you inherently enjoy, then commit to engaging with at least one of these activities each week throughout the Summer. Summer is linked to the ‘pleasure’ hormone dopamine. That boost happens with an early dose of morning sunlight, as it triggers a dopamine release into the body, giving us a natural mood boost to start the day. Dopamine isn’t just about pleasure however,it stimulates neurotransmitters responsible for motivation too. With a morning dose of dopamine, we’re more motivated to approach the day with energy, vibrancy, and enthusiasm. Ancient yogis knew the power of morning sunlight, and some of the earliest forms of Surya Namaskar [Sun Salutations] didn’t involve movement, but focused instead on meditation with sun-gazing – looking towards the sky at sunrise and sunset. It's time to live this Summer -- start by aligning your personal rhythms with the tempo of nature. Get outside in the morning, add a little more fun to your day, and perhaps say ‘yes’ to life a little more this season. A PEEK INTO MENTORSHIP WITH VICYASA™... Many prospective teachers, graduates of teacher training(s) and a handful of you that have a desire just to dive deeper into the many aspects of a yoga practice and teaching yoga regularly have been impacted greatly by our bespoke mentoring program. Mentorship sessions can include sharing the exact experience lived, the practical wisdom I and other teachers have gained from our journey in their domain. We are highly skilled at directing strategies and processes that can sometimes transfer across different contexts. Yoga is a journey as much as a practice. In fact, it's a journey that should never end. Those of us on that journey should be open to learning new things. We should be open to new experiences. That is what mentorship offers. It's an opportunity for a more experienced yoga teacher to share their experiences with you. I am willing to work with anyone on a 1:1 basis or mini-group. There will be suggestions for your practice/teachings, you get a catered to you manual with loads of vital information and to take notes and record your questions or concerns. I will curate a personalized practice for you, based on your interest, needs, questions and situation. You then take this practice into your own life. What you discovered, felt, experienced, or learned through the lens of our personal practice will then create the context for potential offerings or paths you take whether in your personal or business life. The practices may be adapted, changed, modified, or added to. This relationship is important for professionalized yoga teachers. It’s important because as we dive into the industry we often muddy the waters between ‘teaching’ and ‘personal path.' Furthermore the environment of the yoga industry can be difficult to navigate. No one should try to do it on their own. What if you're not a teacher and would like to prepare for training or enhance your ever-hungry-desire to absorb all things yoga? Holla' at me. Feel like your 200 hour training ended with you needing more questions answered? Want to expand on those teachings? Do you feel like there are areas of your teaching repertoire that need enhancing? Contact me for more info and enrollment. 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: 6/23/2025 NO CLASSES TUESDAY: 6/24/2025 NO CLASSES WEDNESDAY: 6/25/2025 NO CLASSES THURSDAY: 6/26/2025 NO CLASSES FRIDAY: 6/27/2025 NO CLASSES SATURDAY: 6/28/2025 NO CLASSES SUNDAY: 6/29/2025 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:
PAYMENT: VENMO -- @Vicyasa Paypal -- [email protected] NAMASTE, Victor Cotto www.YogaWithVictor.com Instagram: CottoVic Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™ Yoga at OHM Newsletter Victor Cotto Vicyasa™ 6/16 - 6/22/2025: Etiquette; Don't be that person!6/13/2025 "Life is not so short but that there is always time enough for courtesy." —Ralph Waldo Emerson  Yoga studios are a safe space first and foremost... a location for growth, exploration and connection. But many times, habits that we cultivate in our own lives can trickle into a yoga class that can be disruptive to the community, potentially hazardous to the practitioners around you and ego driven in a place where we congregate for mindfulness.
This week we look at how we can be an aware neighbor on our yoga mat, and uplift the community instead of being "that person" in a yoga class. Respect boundaries: Have you ever been on an airplane with someone who couldn’t take the hint that you don’t feel like chatting for the entire four-hour flight? Not fun. Some people don’t want to sit and chat at yoga class either. It’s not personal. Pay attention to the cues people give and if they’re not feeling chatty, respect their space. Sometimes being a good yoga neighbor means knowing when to back off. Savasana: People feel uncomfortable sitting in stillness... especially those who only practice hot yoga and are always looking to move. So sometimes students roll up their mat to head out of the door during this final pose, or do abdominal work [yeah... we know those psychos] or inversions instead. But this habit means you’re not only missing out on Savasana’s benefits yourself, you’re also ruining this powerful meditative moment for the people around you. Your phone: "Oh don't worry, it's on silent...", "I have to keep track of time...", "My kids... ", "I need to leave early ... ", all excuses. Phones go off in class and become a distraction, ... you commit to your time to practice, you don't need to keep track of time... You're worried about the kids, then be there for them instead of a yoga class you can take later or earlier... you need to leave early? Take an earlier class or a later class. Leaving early... especially when it's habit: I get it, sometimes life happenings can reroute us. But then there are the habitual disruptors that leave class early just because. That is incredibly rude and disruptive. It is one in the long list of attention seeking behaviors that is anti-mindfulness. When it's a trend and continual, said person who always leaves early should take an earlier class, a later class... or just rent a gym space; and as a studio, tell them their disruptiveness and rudeness is not welcomed. #goodbye Slamming your mat: Take an extra 5 seconds to roll it out quietly. It's just rude to be noisy when everyone else is getting into yoga mode. Don't be a bull in a china shop. My own thing... not now: If you're just going to do variations of poses the teacher is teaching... stay home and do your own practice. There could be newer practitioners around you and you could be steering them into asana shapes that are not guided by the teacher and could lead to hazardous exploration. When you are noisily kicking up to a handstand while the entire class is in child's pose, why did you even come to class? If you want to practice what you like, do it on your own. Alone. Or at the very least, at the back of the room. It is distracting to the teacher and the other students. A major component of being an aspiring yogi and partaking in community classes is following tapas, self-discipline and self-restraint. Let's commit to following the yamas and niyamas for the good of all. Part 2 of this series will be posted in the coming months... A PEEK INTO MENTORSHIP WITH VICYASA™... Many prospective teachers, graduates of teacher training(s) and a handful of you that have a desire just to dive deeper into the many aspects of a yoga practice and teaching yoga regularly have been impacted greatly by our bespoke mentoring program. Mentorship sessions can include sharing the exact experience lived, the practical wisdom I and other teachers have gained from our journey in their domain. We are highly skilled at directing strategies and processes that can sometimes transfer across different contexts. Yoga is a journey as much as a practice. In fact, it's a journey that should never end. Those of us on that journey should be open to learning new things. We should be open to new experiences. That is what mentorship offers. It's an opportunity for a more experienced yoga teacher to share their experiences with you. I am willing to work with anyone on a 1:1 basis or mini-group. There will be suggestions for your practice/teachings, you get a catered to you manual with loads of vital information and to take notes and record your questions or concerns. I will curate a personalized practice for you, based on your interest, needs, questions and situation. You then take this practice into your own life. What you discovered, felt, experienced, or learned through the lens of our personal practice will then create the context for potential offerings or paths you take whether in your personal or business life. The practices may be adapted, changed, modified, or added to. This relationship is important for professionalized yoga teachers. It’s important because as we dive into the industry we often muddy the waters between ‘teaching’ and ‘personal path.' Furthermore the environment of the yoga industry can be difficult to navigate. No one should try to do it on their own. What if you're not a teacher and would like to prepare for training or enhance your ever-hungry-desire to absorb all things yoga? Holla' at me. Feel like your 200 hour training ended with you needing more questions answered? Want to expand on those teachings? Do you feel like there are areas of your teaching repertoire that need enhancing? Contact me for more info and enrollment. 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: 6/16/2025 NO CLASSES TUESDAY: 6/17/2025 NO CLASSES WEDNESDAY: 6/18/2025 NO CLASSES THURSDAY: 6/19/2025 NO CLASSES FRIDAY: 6/20/2025 NO CLASSES SATURDAY: 6/21/2025 NO CLASSES SUNDAY: 6/22/2025 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:
PAYMENT: VENMO -- @Vicyasa Paypal -- [email protected] NAMASTE, Victor Cotto www.YogaWithVictor.com Instagram: CottoVic Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™ Yoga at OHM Newsletter Victor Cotto Vicyasa™ 6/9 - 6/15/2025: CALMING THE FIRE IN PITTA SEASON6/6/2025 CALMING THE FIRE IN PITTA SEASON  (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.) Seasons, Equinoxes, Solstices… whatever you want to call them, the times of the year come and go. Weather changes, days become longer and shorter, and energies shift. This happens in all elements of life, yoga included.
Yoga’s sister science, Ayurveda, is broken up into doshas. Doshas explain energies and bio-energies. As such, they live within us and around us. We all have a unique constitution, a combination of the three doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. We tend to be dominant in one dosha with a secondary dosha trailing closely behind. There are still elements of the third within us, but they tend to be less prominent. Doshas aren’t just associated with the body and mind; they’re also interlinked with the seasons. Late fall/ winter is known as Vata Season; late winter into spring is Kapha Season; late spring into summer is Pitta Season, which brings us to the here and now. What is Pitta Season? This time of late spring into summer is characterized by heat. As we welcome the warmer weather and the sunnier days, there’s a tendency to spend more time outside. The Pitta dosha consists of Fire and Water elements. The hottest and longest days of the year occur during this time. It’s energetic and fiery, which can be fun and lively but also draining if you overdo it. What is the Pitta Dosha? People who are Pitta dominant tend to be quick and sharp. They may have tendencies toward aggravation, which could manifest in a hot temper. These people also generally enjoy cardio intensive, muscle building, heart pumping routines. If you’re not sure of your constitution, there are several online quizzes you can take to determine yours. Pro tip: take a few so you can cross-reference the results. What to Do if You’re Pitta Dominant If you’re Pitta dominant, this is your season, baby! You may feel like you’re high on life during this time; however, you may also feel a little extra testy. The hot, humid weather could be getting to you. If you love fast-paced vinyasa flows, you may find yourself going to them multiple times a week but never feeling satisfied; when is it enough? In Ayurveda, just like in all elements of life, there can be too much of a good thing. You like these spicy flows but overdoing them could be just that – overkill. There needs to be balance or you’ll burn yourself out, quite literally, in this season of fire. Some tips for finding balance:
For you, it ‘s even more important to be intentional about taming the fiery spice. As for the energetic vinyasa flows, you don’t have to take them out entirely. Just keep an eye on how they make you feel and notice if they tend to cause aggravation. That could be your sign to back off for a little while. What if You’re Not a Pitta? These tips still matter even if you’re not Pitta dominant. We’re all living in this world and the changing of the seasons affects us, whether a little or a lot. As we enter this energetic shift, use it as an opportunity to become more inquisitive about how you can calm your fire without dampening your flame. A PEEK INTO MENTORSHIP WITH VICYASA™... Many prospective teachers, graduates of teacher training(s) and a handful of you that have a desire just to dive deeper into the many aspects of a yoga practice and teaching yoga regularly have been impacted greatly by our bespoke mentoring program. Mentorship sessions can include sharing the exact experience lived, the practical wisdom I and other teachers have gained from our journey in their domain. We are highly skilled at directing strategies and processes that can sometimes transfer across different contexts. Yoga is a journey as much as a practice. In fact, it's a journey that should never end. Those of us on that journey should be open to learning new things. We should be open to new experiences. That is what mentorship offers. It's an opportunity for a more experienced yoga teacher to share their experiences with you. I am willing to work with anyone on a 1:1 basis or mini-group. There will be suggestions for your practice/teachings, you get a catered to you manual with loads of vital information and to take notes and record your questions or concerns. I will curate a personalized practice for you, based on your interest, needs, questions and situation. You then take this practice into your own life. What you discovered, felt, experienced, or learned through the lens of our personal practice will then create the context for potential offerings or paths you take whether in your personal or business life. The practices may be adapted, changed, modified, or added to. This relationship is important for professionalized yoga teachers. It’s important because as we dive into the industry we often muddy the waters between ‘teaching’ and ‘personal path.' Furthermore the environment of the yoga industry can be difficult to navigate. No one should try to do it on their own. What if you're not a teacher and would like to prepare for training or enhance your ever-hungry-desire to absorb all things yoga? Holla' at me. Feel like your 200 hour training ended with you needing more questions answered? Want to expand on those teachings? Do you feel like there are areas of your teaching repertoire that need enhancing? Contact me for more info and enrollment. 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: 6/9/2025 NO CLASSES TUESDAY: 6/10/2025 NO CLASSES WEDNESDAY: 6/11/2025 NO CLASSES THURSDAY: 6/12/2025 NO CLASSES FRIDAY: 6/13/2025 NO CLASSES SATURDAY: 6/14/2025 NO CLASSES SUNDAY: 6/15/2025 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:
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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