“The more you practice the art of thankfulness, the more you have to be thankful for.” - Norman Vincent Peale, American Author  (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.) As we enter the season of giving thanks and gratitude, now is the perfect time to reflect on what you are grateful for, specifically as it relates to yoga. Yes, this is a yoga newsletter and the topics will always have some relation to the yoga practice, but there’s more to it than that.
Yoga and Asana in particular are interesting in how they can offer mixed messages. When it comes to gratitude in yoga, it may start on the mat but it doesn’t stop there. So often, yoga on the mat is a reflection of your life as a whole. When you ask yourself what you’re grateful for about yoga, what comes up? Perhaps coming to your mat has given you a newfound sense of gratitude for your body; for its ability to move in a fluid, healthy, strong, capable manner. Maybe yoga has given you gratitude for your breath; for how it carries you from one pose to the next; how it keeps you calm in the face of chaos; how it offers you more control over your emotions, thoughts, and life overall. Yoga may also help you show gratitude for the community of which you are a part. The people you see multiple times a week, the ones who are staples of the studio…may you be grateful to know them, to laugh with them, to sweat with them, and to breathe with them. Then there’s the gratitude you may have for the teachers to whom you’ve been introduced; for the ways they’ve challenged you, changed you, and for your own willingness to trust them. That’s no easy feat; for that, you can be grateful to yourself and for the open mind you’ve cultivated. Perhaps the yoga practice has given you other gifts as well: patience to weather the storm when things don’t go your way; the flexibility to adjust your mindset and adapt to new ways of thinking; the ability to live life with grace. Here is an offering: consider starting a practice of noting what you are grateful for. Perhaps take 2 minutes each day to write down 3 things for which you are grateful. Maybe do it in the morning when you first wake up or at night, just before your head hits the pillow. You’ll quickly realize just how full and abundant your life is and how many things you truly have to be grateful for. MENTORSHIP WITH VICYASA™... Yoga with Victor's mentorship program... for teachers looking to sharpen their tools and hone in on varying skills that will make you more proficient at sequencing, teaching anatomy, or widening their skill set to become a successful instructor and craft your own business model. 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: 11/4/2024 NO CLASSES TUESDAY: 11/5/2024 NO CLASSES WEDNESDAY: 11/6/2024 NO CLASSES THURSDAY: 11/7/2024 NO CLASSES FRIDAY: 11/8/2024 NO CLASSES SATURDAY: 11/9/2024 NO CLASSES SUNDAY: 11/10/2024 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. *NEW REGULAR RATES:
PAYMENT: VENMO -- @Vicyasa Paypal -- [email protected] NAMASTE, Victor Cotto www.YogaWithVictor.com Instagram: CottoVic Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™
0 Comments
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE POSE (AND WHY)?  (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.) Have you ever thought about which yoga pose is your favorite? If not, now is a great opportunity to do so. Some people know immediately which poses or types of poses they gravitate toward while others take more time to feel it out. Once you’ve settled on your preferences, the next step is to get curious and ask why? Why is it your favorite?
Is it because it looks cool? Is it a boost to your ego to be able to do it? Do you enjoy the pose because it feels good in your body? What about it feels good? Do you like that the pose lets you tap into your strength or that it pushes your limits? Do you love how it challenges your body or your mind…or both? Do you love how it stretches your body or your mind…or both? Does the pose make you feel powerful, like a badass? Now thing about your least favorite pose. What is your least favorite pose and why? Is it painful? Uncomfortable? Awkward? Does it feel inaccessible? Does it make you feel inadequate? Do you avoid doing this pose or do you do it anyway, disliking it all the while? If you choose to do it, do you embrace the discontentment and allow yourself to surrender into the discomfort or do you silently count the seconds until it’s over? There’s nothing wrong with having favorites, nor is there anything wrong with having aversions. All of this is information that can be useful as we approach the yoga practice both on and off the mat. The key is to stay curious and get inquisitive. Don’t just stop at I like this or I don’t like that. Ask yourself why. You may find that you enjoy trikonasana because your body is naturally flexible. Eka Pada Koundinyasana 2, however, may feel like a real reach if your arm strength isn’t where you want it to be. It’s neither good nor bad to like or dislike certain poses. It is simply information. Think of this curiosity as a tool you can use in your asana arsenal. MENTORSHIP WITH VICYASA™... Yoga with Victor's mentorship program... for teachers looking to sharpen their tools and hone in on varying skills that will make you more proficient at sequencing, teaching anatomy, or widening their skill set to become a successful instructor and craft your own business model. 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: 10/28/2024 NO CLASSES TUESDAY: 10/29/2024 NO CLASSES WEDNESDAY: 10/30/2024 NO CLASSES THURSDAY: 10/31/2024 NO CLASSES FRIDAY: 11/1/2024 NO CLASSES SATURDAY: 11/2/2024 NO CLASSES SUNDAY: 11/3/2024 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. *NEW REGULAR RATES:
PAYMENT: VENMO -- @Vicyasa Paypal -- [email protected] NAMASTE, Victor Cotto www.YogaWithVictor.com Instagram: CottoVic Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™ “The state of your surroundings tells the condition of your soul.” - unknown  Shaucha/Saucha is the first of the five niyamas [personal observances], which form the second limb of yoga as described in "The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali." The term literally means purity, cleanliness and clearness. It refers to purity of mind, speech and body.
The habits we pick up throughout life off the mat may or may not serve us, and the idea of our practice is to recognise what doesn’t help us and what does, coming towards a state in which everything we do aids us towards being happier, healthier and more awake and aware in life. If we take our ‘bad’ habits on to the mat with us, then our practice becomes a lot harder, we have to sift through the ‘impurities’ or negativity we’ve picked up before reaping the benefits of Yoga. Impurities we try to shed can be mental & physical. Practicing cleanliness of body, mind, spirit and surroundings will help direct us towards a pure and positive life. Some ways to "cleanse": Neti - nasal cleansing Dhauti - cleansing of digestive tract Nauli - abdominal massage Bhasti - colon cleansing Kappalabhati - breath of fire Our environment can reflect our state of mind. You’ll probably identify with the fact that when our bedrooms or homes are messy, our minds can often feel a little messy and cluttered too. When we’re surrounded by a clean environment however, with clear surfaces, possessions that we need – and not possessions we’ve hoarded over the years and can’t bear to get rid of – and the sense of having space to breathe, then we’re likely to feel a whole lot better and clearer in our minds. Not only does having a clean place to practice in, and a clean mat to practise on feel good, it shows a sign of respect towards our practice. MENTORSHIP WITH VICYASA™... Yoga with Victor's mentorship program... for teachers looking to sharpen their tools and hone in on varying skills that will make you more proficient at sequencing, teaching anatomy, or widening their skill set to become a successful instructor and craft your own business model. 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: 10/21/2024 NO CLASSES TUESDAY: 10/22/2024 NO CLASSES WEDNESDAY: 10/23/2024 NO CLASSES THURSDAY: 10/24/2024 NO CLASSES FRIDAY: 10/25/2024 NO CLASSES SATURDAY: 10/26/2024 NO CLASSES SUNDAY: 10/27/2024 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. *NEW REGULAR RATES:
PAYMENT: VENMO -- @Vicyasa Paypal -- [email protected] NAMASTE, Victor Cotto www.YogaWithVictor.com Instagram: CottoVic Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™ "Truth cannot be interpreted – it can only be experienced." - Sadhguru  The Yamas [a series of "right living" or ethical rules within Yoga philosophy - "reining in" or "control" - restraints for proper conduct that can be understood as ways in which we interact with the world around us.] Essentially, things we must observe to be good, solid people. There's no surprise that telling the truth makes the list & it is called SATYA; the second of the Yamas. It literally translates to honesty and is about being truthful to the world and to yourself, but without forgetting our other goals of being kind and compassionate that we looked at in Ahimsa [non injury/harm]. Sometimes being truthful is not about what you say, but how you say it & how we live it. In order to check if what we want to express is following Satya, we can ask ourselves these four questions: Is it true? Is it REALLY true? Is it necessary? Is it kind/can you say it in a kind way? In our yoga practice, we must be honest with our students when we are teaching and we must be honest to ourselves as practitioners. We can't let our ego take over and tell us we can do a pose when we can't or shouldn't. In the same way, we can't let fear tell us we can't do something if truthfully we can. These are all things to consider when practicing - decide what is the version of the practice that is truthfully right for you. The benefits of SATYA? Healthier relationships with others and yourself. A clear conscience. Trust in yourself. Inspires others. The benefits of continuously choosing the truth and bringing satya into your yoga practice will benefit so many aspects of your life it will be truly worth it! MENTORSHIP WITH VICYASA™... Yoga with Victor's mentorship program... for teachers looking to sharpen their tools and hone in on varying skills that will make you more proficient at sequencing, teaching anatomy, or widening their skill set to become a successful instructor and craft your own business model. 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: 10/14/2024 NO CLASSES TUESDAY: 10/15/2024 NO CLASSES WEDNESDAY: 10/16/2024 NO CLASSES THURSDAY: 10/17/2024 NO CLASSES FRIDAY: 10/18/2024 NO CLASSES SATURDAY: 10/19/2024 NO CLASSES SUNDAY: 10/20/2024 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. *NEW REGULAR RATES:
PAYMENT: VENMO -- @Vicyasa Paypal -- [email protected] NAMASTE, Victor Cotto www.YogaWithVictor.com Instagram: CottoVic Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™ ONE POSE AT A TIME “Do one thing at a time, and while doing it put your whole soul into it to the exclusion of all else.”— Swami Vivekananda  (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.)
Several weeks ago, I taught a class before which a student came up to me and warned, “Elinor, I may leave early. It’s not because I have to but I just might get overheated or overwhelmed and feel like I have to leave. I’m just telling you now because I want you to know it’s not you.” I said, “Okay. That’s perfectly fine. I feel like that sometimes too - like committing to the whole class is just too much. But what if you don’t decide to leave early now. I’m not saying you can’t; you absolutely can if you feel you need or want to. But if you feel like that, I’m going challenge you to stay. How about this: how about you take it one pose at a time? You don’t have to commit to it all. Just one pose at a time.” She said that seemed like a good idea and agreed to do just that. I’ve known this student for years. I’ve seen her practice grow tremendously. She’s an advanced practitioner and she knows her limits. And I know she wanted to be in class, but the idea of committing to 60 minutes of strenuous, powerful movement is intimidating whether it’s your first or five hundredth class. Sometimes the idea of committing to anything for more than a few minutes feels insurmountable. But what if we step back and take it one pose at a time? Kali mudra, the inspiration for that class’s sequence, comes from the goddess Kali, who teaches us to remove negative blockages and step into our power. The way we do that is one pose at a time. One breath at a time. The student stayed for the entirety of the practice and walked out with a smiling face of accomplishment. She said ,”I’m glad I spoke to you before class. And I’m glad I stayed.” It’s not about finishing the class, which this student knew… which we all know. It’s about trusting yourself to step into your power, one pose at a time. MENTORSHIP WITH VICYASA™... Yoga with Victor's mentorship program... for teachers looking to sharpen their tools and hone in on varying skills that will make you more proficient at sequencing, teaching anatomy, or widening their skill set to become a successful instructor and craft your own business model. 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: 10/7/2024 NO CLASSES TUESDAY: 10/8/2024 NO CLASSES WEDNESDAY: 10/9/2024 NO CLASSES THURSDAY: 10/10/2024 NO CLASSES FRIDAY: 10/11/2024 NO CLASSES SATURDAY: 10/12/2024 NO CLASSES SUNDAY: 10/13/2024 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. *NEW 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. Categories
All
|
RSS Feed