YOGA WITH VICTOR - VICYASA™
  • Yoga With Victor
  • Schedule
  • Blog/Events
  • Vicyasa™ - Facebook
  • Gallery
  • Media & Testimonials
  • Private Sessions & Corporate Yoga
  • About Me
  • Videos

Yoga at OHM Schedule w/ Victor 3/13-3/19/2023: Keys Happiness, Queens Scene Interview

3/8/2023

0 Comments

 
“The more the heart is sated with joy, the more it becomes insatiable.” —Gabrielle Roy
Vicyasa™, Long Island City Yoga, Victor Cotto Yoga, Power Vinyasa, On-Demand Yoga, New York City Best Yoga Teachers, Sui Yoga, YogaSpark, ClassPass™, New York Yoga Hot Upper East Side
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.

QUEENS SCENE... Interview. CHECK IT OUT!
Queens Scene magazine is a community publication that is devoted to the lifestyle and trends of neighborhoods of Astoria, Long Island City and Western Queens, NYC.

"The soul of the community in terms of nightlife, adventure, fun, and art," Queens Scene contacted me for an interview about yoga, my approach to the practice and places to visit in Queens. Featured in their Health Section, check out the online feature (CLICK HERE).

OH.... YES! As the weather warms, we'll have announcements regarding our wildly popular and fun outdoor classes in Long Island City, Astoria... and Manhattan, in some of NYC's most scenic parks.

Check out Queens Scene online HERE.

LOADS OF NEW ON-DEMAND CLASSES...
Victor, along with Elinor Cohen [IG: @elinorraerigby] and Leanne McDermott [IG: @leannerays], have added NEW advanced/intermediate yoga sessions to the on-demand section. We've also added 60-minute sessions, along with 40-45 minute vinyasa classes for you to flow to any time of the day. To get on-demand, just subscribe to any of our UNLIMITED packages. Demetra Kentrotas [IG: @d_meetch] has fusion yoga/pilates classes, and loads of power classes of varying duration.

SALE...
Get multiple months of LIVE & On-demand yoga... for $155! If you're currently inactive, you can grab 2 months of UNLIMITED live sessions and access to our on-demand classes. Membership will activate upon payment. Grab this great deal NOW... it'll only last 48-hours upon receiving this email.


YOGA AT OHHHMMM VIRTUAL SCHEDULE:

MONDAY: 3/13/2023
  • 6:30 am -- Vinyasa
  • 6:15 pm -- Flow Yoga
TUESDAY: 3/14/2023
  • 6:30 am -- Vinyasa
  • 12:00 pm -- Flow Yoga
WEDNESDAY: 3/15/2023
  • 6:30 am -- Sunrise Vinyasa
THURSDAY: 3/16/2023
  • 6:30 am -- Sunrise Vinyasa
  • 12:00 pm -- Flow Yoga
FRIDAY: 3/17/2023
  • 6:45 am -- Vinyasa
  • 12:00 pm -- Flow Yoga
SATURDAY: 3/18/2023
  • 9:00 am -- Sweat Fest Yoga
SUNDAY: 3/19/2023
  • 9:00 am -- POWER 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)
  • $35 for 2 weeks INTRO SPECIAL (new subscribers only)
  • $45 for 2 weeks UNLIMITED CLASSES! (includes on-demand)
  • $85 for 30 days of UNLIMITED CLASSES! (includes on-demand)
  • $105 for 10 classes (expiration date - 75 days)
  • $55 for 5 classes (expiration date - 60 days)


PAYMENT:
VENMO -- @Vicyasa
Paypal -- Victor@YogawithVictor.com

NAMASTE,
Victor Cotto
www.YogaWithVictor.com
Instagram: CottoVic
Facebook: 
Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™
0 Comments

Yoga at OHM Schedule w/ Victor 3/6-3/12/2023: It's Yoga Practice, Not Yoga Perfect

3/1/2023

0 Comments

 

It's Yoga Practice, Not Yoga Perfect
The importance of treating yoga as an ongoing journey vs. an achievement

“Do your practice and all is coming.”–  Pattabhi Jois
Elinor Cohen, Vicyasa™, Victor Cotto Yoga, Upper East Side Hot Yoga, New York Yoga HOT, On Demand and LIVE online Yoga Sessions
(This week's newsletter was composed by our wonderful 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 stopped to think about the words we use to describe yoga? Unlike a traditional workout in which you might discuss a “routine” or a “program,” yoga uses the term “practice” to describe the poses, the breathwork, and the actions yogis go through every time they step on their mat. The practice also refers to the work done off the mat, or the real yoga as some like to call it.

Thinking about the yoga practice as just that – a practice– can be freeing. Instead of something that needs to be “gotten,” achieved, or perfected, the essence of yoga is in the practice itself.

Despite the fact that many of us strive for it, we all know that perfection isn’t realistic or even possible. The beauty of having a yoga practice is that perfection is never the goal. With that, you can release a sigh of relief! Eliminating the perfection aspect from yoga means that there’s no pressure to “nail it” or "get it just right.”

Not to be the bearer of bad news, but the truth about yoga is that you’re never going to "get" it. This is because yoga isn't something that can ever be fully figured out. The practice of yoga is in accepting that it is an ongoing journey, with twists, turns, exceptions, and pearls of wisdom peppered in along the way.

Yoga doesn't want you to have it all figured out. It wants you to trust that it has what you need at any given time. Yoga is fluid, just like we are as human beings. We are ever-changing and malleable. We will never 100% figure ourselves out. The moment we think we do, life throws us a curveball to test us. Some call it a “gotcha” moment while others simply see it as the Universe humbling us. Yoga is like that, too. The practice is an opportunity for constant learning and growth. There's never an end to the practice of yoga, and that is what makes it so accessible to everyone. The infiniteness of yoga is freedom.

LOADS OF NEW ON-DEMAND CLASSES...
Victor, along with Elinor Cohen [IG: @elinorraerigby] and Leanne McDermott [IG: @leannerays], have added NEW advanced/intermediate yoga sessions to the on-demand section. We've also added 60-minute sessions, along with 40-45 minute vinyasa classes for you to flow to any time of the day. To get on-demand, just subscribe to any of our UNLIMITED packages. Demetra Kentrotas [IG: @d_meetch] has fusion yoga/pilates classes, and loads of power classes of varying duration.

SALE...
Get multiple months of LIVE & On-demand yoga... for $155! If you're currently inactive, you can grab 2 months of UNLIMITED live sessions and access to our on-demand classes. Membership will activate upon payment. Grab this great deal NOW... it'll only last 48-hours upon receiving this email.


YOGA AT OHHHMMM VIRTUAL SCHEDULE:

MONDAY: 3/6/2023
  • 6:30 am -- Vinyasa
  • 6:15 pm -- Flow Yoga
TUESDAY: 3/7/2023
  • 6:30 am -- Vinyasa
  • 12:00 pm -- Flow Yoga
WEDNESDAY: 3/8/2023
  • 6:30 am -- Sunrise Vinyasa
THURSDAY: 3/9/2023
  • 6:30 am -- Sunrise Vinyasa
  • 12:00 pm -- Flow Yoga
FRIDAY: 3/10/2023
  • 6:45 am -- Vinyasa
  • 12:00 pm -- Flow Yoga
SATURDAY: 3/11/2023
  • 9:00 am -- Sweat Fest Yoga
SUNDAY: 3/12/2023
  • 9:00 am -- POWER 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)
  • $35 for 2 weeks INTRO SPECIAL (new subscribers only)
  • $45 for 2 weeks UNLIMITED CLASSES! (includes on-demand)
  • $85 for 30 days of UNLIMITED CLASSES! (includes on-demand)
  • $105 for 10 classes (expiration date - 75 days)
  • $55 for 5 classes (expiration date - 60 days)


PAYMENT:
VENMO -- @Vicyasa
Paypal -- Victor@YogawithVictor.com

NAMASTE,
Victor Cotto
www.YogaWithVictor.com
Instagram: CottoVic
Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™
0 Comments

Yoga at OHM Schedule w/ Victor 1/16/-1/22/2023: Intention Setting, Harness Your Greatness

1/11/2023

0 Comments

 
“Your beliefs become your thoughts,
Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions,
Your actions become your habits,
Your habits become your values,
Your values become your destiny.”
― Gandhi
Victor Cotto Vicyasa™ Yoga, Cancun Yoga, Warrior Two, Mexico Yoga Retreat, Beach Yoga, Upper East Side NYC, New York Best Yoga Teachers, ClassPass, Sui Yoga, New York Yoga, Vinyasa, Astoria Queens Yoga Room
Who is ready to manifest their best life? We’re slaying into 2023 -- being present and savoring our moments, basking in our glory & illuminating and uplifting others with our state of being. Whatever your goals and desires to live your best life are, a consistent yoga and meditation practice will help you set clear intentions and help you identify your personal life vision.

Give yourself time and space to contemplate your desires. Connect with your heart. Get into a state of flow with heart-brain coherence. Allow yourself to think big. And most importantly … Set an intention! The power of your intention and your consistent diligence cannot be underestimated. Setting an intention for yourself each day as a part of your morning routine will raise your vibrations to attract more love and positivity and inspire you to channel that positive energy into action.

Intention setting is a loving commitment to oneself that joins the heart and mind on a journey to one’s highest calling.

Simply put, it is to clearly state what you want to experience and achieve through your actions. Setting an intention can be done in all aspects of your life, from relationships and personal life to your work life.

Spend some quiet time and reflect on the experiences, relationships, the feelings, the things that you wish to experience in your life. Take some time to feel the emotions you may feel when you experience your intentions in your life. From there, write down the intentions you want to set. Then, spend time thinking about how having these intentions come into your reality will feel, what does it look like, feel like, what will you be doing? Get as vivid and clear as you can in these steps as feeling the emotions will activate the intentions and allow for them to flow easily to you. Your thoughts that turn into emotions, which inspire actions, are all used to manifest your intentions.

Intention Setting Examples:
  • I will show compassion to myself and others
  • I intend to embrace myself as who I am each day
  • I lead by example in my work and personal life
  • I trust my path to unfold as it is meant to
  • I am grateful for what I have
  • I am patient and present
  • I practice self-care every day

At Vicyasa™, we support our community in harnessing the power of intention to infuse the mind, body, and spirit with confidence, positivity, and a boost of well-being.

ELINOR & LEANNE & DEMETRA... OH MY!
You need a 30-minute yoga class? Have time only for a 45-minute flow? Want to practice "on the go" with amazing instructors? We got you! Elinor Cohen's [IG: @elinorraerigby] 60-minute advanced/intermediate flow with a peak pose to level up your asana-game is available to stream along with NEW 30-minute express power yoga classes. Leanne McDermott [IG: @leannerays] has blessed us with TWO all level yoga classes under 30-minutes for those "on the go" -- available now! Demetra Kentrotas [IG: d_meetch] has loads of 30-minute, 45-minute and 60-minute sessions; and fun short hybrid yoga/pilates fusion sessions. Load 'em up and flow with these amazing talents. We will continue to add more sessions onto our on-demand archive - available with all LIVE classes to our unlimited subscribers.

YOGA AT OHHHMMM VIRTUAL SCHEDULE:

MONDAY: 1/16/2023
  • 6:30 am -- Vinyasa with Victor
  • 6:15 pm -- Flow Yoga
TUESDAY: 1/17/2023
  • 6:45 am -- Vinyasa with Victor
  • 12:00 pm -- Flow Yoga with Victor
WEDNESDAY: 1/18/2023
  • 6:30 am -- Sunrise Vinyasa with Victor
THURSDAY: 1/19/2023
  • 6:30 am -- Sunrise Vinyasa with Victor
  • 12:00 pm -- Flow Yoga with Victor
FRIDAY: 1/20/2023
  • 6:45 am -- Vinyasa with Victor
  • 12:00 pm -- Flow Yoga with Victor
SATURDAY: 1/21/2023
  • 9:00 am -- Sweat Fest Yoga with Victor
SUNDAY: 1/22/2023
  • 9:00 am -- POWER Yoga with Victor


*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)
  • $35 for 2 weeks INTRO SPECIAL (new subscribers only)
  • $45 for 2 weeks UNLIMITED CLASSES! (includes on-demand)
  • $85 for 30 days of UNLIMITED CLASSES! (includes on-demand)
  • $105 for 10 classes (expiration date - 75 days)
  • $55 for 5 classes (expiration date - 60 days)



PAYMENT:
VENMO -- @Vicyasa
Paypal -- Victor@YogawithVictor.com

NAMASTE,
Victor Cotto
www.YogaWithVictor.com
Instagram: CottoVic
Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™
0 Comments

Great Night at Anthea!

6/12/2014

2 Comments

 
Anthea Yoga Center Schedule Healing Astoria NY
Meditative mantra chants and potent breathing of focused yogis was last night’s soundtrack ... 

Thank you to all who engaged in a beautiful 75-minute practice last night at Anthea Yoga. The free-flowing sun salutations were aspiring and the sight of upside down bodies in headstands was completely meditative and serene. 

Trust your breath; never lose it during your practice and savor the lightness and strength you attain via your prana. 

My peeps at Anthea...

See you next week!

-Vic



2 Comments

Yogis of Earth... You Rule!

5/29/2014

0 Comments

 
Earth Yoga NYC Hot Vinyasa
On Tuesday night, the vibe and energy at Earth Yoga was just REAL!

I had the pleasure of leading a power hot vinyasa class that just kept me buzzing days later. There is nothing like seeing a community of asana practitioners cultivating high levels of awareness, smiling and taking themselves to their limits with great recognition and profound focus. 

Was it hot? Yup. Was it sweaty? Absolutely. Did any of that take these yogis away from their "atha," their NOW? Nope. With every inhale and ensuing exhale, I felt the power of breathing and absorbed their intensity. 

Earth yogis… as I told you after class, there's no other place I would rather have been than there with you. Thank you.

Namaste,
Vic 


0 Comments

Arm-Balancing Tips

5/13/2014

0 Comments

 
Hope is not a prediction of the future, it's a declaration of what is possible.

-- Yogi Bhajan
Picture
Arm balancing… YIKES. The dreaded point in the class where many of us just sit around and watch and get down on ourselves, or don't stay within our own practice for whatever the reason. 

Listen, sometimes… bakasana (crow pose) just isn't for me. And that's part of our daily practice. So you know what? Just stay in malasana and enjoy the benefits of that asana. We are not in class to show-off, nor to get down on ourselves for not being able to do whatever our neighbor is doing. 

I truly feel that the fear of getting into an arm-balance or the perception that you "can't do it" is the biggest hindrance to someone actually working their way to a particular pose.

Here are some tips that will hopefully help you in your journey:

  • Have fun: Laugh when you fall, enjoy the exploration and smile your way through the process. If you go into the arm-balance with a playful intent, chances are, you'll savor the experience and its outcomes. 
  • Stay within the "Atha": NOW. Don't worry about an accelerated variation or final expression. Each step, live in it and continue to build, not holding on to any past experience and not anticipating any end-result.
  • Breathe: Most of the tension in our poses come from our inability to just inhale and exhale. Breathing will steady the body and help you feel lighter. 
  • Let go: If you got into your first arm-balance or that tricky one that you feel has gotten the best of you, let it go. If you working towards a particular one and begin to feel its a daunting task… LET IT GO. It won't define you either way… so let it go. 

I invite you to post any prior experiences and approaches in hopes of empowering others. We are all students and one way we attain knowledge is via other people's journeys. 

See you soon… 
-- Vic

0 Comments

Yoga & Art

5/5/2014

0 Comments

 
Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time. 

-- Thomas Merton
Vicyasa Victor Cotto Welling Court Astoria New York Yoga Mural Graffiti
Two things I love in life… yoga and art. 

The above quote by Thomas Merton rings very true to me. When I'm completely immersed in a sequence, a flow, a progression of poses and just feeling the rhythm of my own breath… I always likened it to losing myself in a beautiful painting or just being alive and gazing mesmerized at a mural. 

At the same time, my asana practice just brings me back to who I am. Clarity… being in a lucid state of profound consciousness. Art in that same way is an ultimate form of expression and applying who you are in a creative way to facilitate emotional power. 

When you're in an asana and breathing…  you become art. When you see your body and the life you live as a conscious way of bringing forth beauty into your life and those of others… you are yoga. 


0 Comments

The advanced variation... with a smile.

5/4/2014

0 Comments

 
A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.
-- Phyllis Diller
Picture
We've been there before… we are engaged in a pose with great intensity, maybe shrugging our shoulders, tight at the hips, but mainly, scrunched up in the face. I've heard teachers many times say that the most advanced variation of any pose is just being in it, finding stillness and accentuating it with a smile. This is very true. 


0 Comments

“Yoga isn’t just about showing up on the mat” 

5/2/2014

1 Comment

 
“Yoga isn’t just about showing up on the mat. It’s about showing up in your life, in your day; it’s about opening your heart while standing firm and strong and believing in yourself.” 

-- Kathryn E. Livingston 
Picture
Standing firm in what you believe in... opening your heart. Two concepts that can be burdensome for many. I'm  finding it a lot easier to find belief and open-up while practicing asana on the mat. For others, it's the other way around. 

Away from the mat ... boy, that's tough for me. On your mat, your dealing with your own shit, independently and you are cultivating awareness from within. When you transition, away from that, relating that consciousness to day-to-day happenings and relationships is the true test and when the yoga - the union - really begins. 

1 Comment

You know you are becoming a true yogi when…

4/30/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
One of my all-time favorite teachers, Marko Galjasevic, said… "We are all aspiring yogis." People such as Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama and Ghandi… those are the true yogis. Many of us are taking a yogic journey and living a lifestyle to cultivate awareness, provide devotional service to those in need and are committed to being positive and nurturing positivity to all those you come in contact with.  Those are attributes in a yogi.

Being a yogi is not doing handstand in the middle of a room, or getting into a full split with ease. Nor is it just becoming a yoga teacher and having a class full of admiring students. 

It's about the life you lead and how you enrich the life of others. 

A great man sets an example by his actions.
 The whole world follows the standard that he sets,
Krishna -- Bhagavad Gita
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Author

    If I'm doing it, I'll be talking about it.  Yoga chatter & more. 

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    December 2019
    September 2019
    June 2019
    March 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    September 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014

    Categories

    All
    Adho Mukha Svanasana
    Adho Mukha Vrksasana
    Anthea Yoga & Healing Arts Center
    Asana
    Ashley Elnicki
    Athleta
    Babette Godefroy
    BARRE
    Becca Pace
    Beloved Yogi Harlem
    Bhagavad Gita
    Blocks
    BodyArt™
    BodyArt™
    Boro Magazine
    Brooklyn
    Demetra Kentrotas
    Dharma Talk
    Dina Ivas
    DJ Shisaa
    Down To Earth Markets
    Earth Yoga NYC
    Earth Yoga NYC
    Eka Pada Rajakapotasana
    Elinor Cohen
    Equinox
    Erin Giordano
    Event
    Glass House Yoga
    Gopal Chandra
    Greenpoint Terminal Market
    HIIT
    HITT
    Hot Yoga
    Info
    Jenn Spry
    Josh Mathew Meier
    Josh Mathew-Meier
    Karen Hyland
    Leanne McDermott
    Live
    Living Yoga
    LL Studio
    LuluLemon
    Makara Studio
    Marko Galjasevic
    Meditation
    Meow Parlour
    New York Yoga
    Occupational Therapy
    On Demand
    Outdoor Class
    Patañjali
    Phalakasana
    Pilates
    Plank
    Prana Power Yoga
    Press
    Private Yoga
    QNS.com
    Queens Scene
    Raghunath Cappo
    Retreat
    SALE
    Savasana
    Sebastian Morel-Ferreira
    Setu Bandhasana
    SMAX Music
    Streaming Classes
    Sukhasana
    Sun Salutation
    Sutra
    Tanya Mgrdechian
    Teaching
    The Yoga Room
    Workout Factory
    Workshop
    YELP
    Yoga
    YogaCity NYC
    Yoga In The Park
    Yoga Spark
    Yumcha Yoga
    Zsuzsanna Bircsak

    RSS Feed

  • Yoga With Victor
  • Schedule
  • Blog/Events
  • Vicyasa™ - Facebook
  • Gallery
  • Media & Testimonials
  • Private Sessions & Corporate Yoga
  • About Me
  • Videos