"Clean the body, yes, we take a bath one, two, three times a day. How many times do you meditate to clean the mind? You take a bath to clean the body; you meditate to clean the mind. There is nothing more to it." -- Yogi Bhajan  Let's talk again about the Yamas and Niyamas.... our ethical and moral guidelines outlined in classical Yoga philosophy, particularly in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. This foundational Yoga text provides a comprehensive approach to practicing and embodying all the limbs of Yoga. The Yamas and Niyamas are the first two limbs and aim to help us cultivate a balanced and harmonious life. Saucha is the first niyama, or yogic observance, in yogic teachings. Sauchacan be translated from Sanskrit to mean “purity” or “cleanliness.” This extends beyond just physical cleanliness, but also includes cleanliness in your environment, your mental state, and your daily approach to life. The theme for March is Saucha, or purity. When we heat the body through breathwork and intentional movement, we purify the body from the inside out. When we create a daily ritual of yoga (whether it’s an hour long hot class or 10 minutes of Sun Salutations at home) the body gets used to this method of detoxification. The sweat released from the body during a fiery practice will cleanse the body. The practice of Saucha also translates to the environment around you; as you prepare your space for practice, take a few moments to be mindful of your setup. Perhaps you begin by cleaning your mat. Place props such as yoga blocks in a space where they are accessible, and not causing haphazard clutter around you. Your personal hygiene pre-and-post class as well we practice Saucha. Likely, you’ve heard some iteration of the dictum “Your body is a temple” and taking care of your hygienic needs is a small, but important way to honor your physical vessel. Ultimately, staying present: an essential teaching that recognizes that each moment is pure, just as it is. Instead of trying to rush through a pose, derailing a teacher's sequence, avoidance towards whatever lies ahead, or remaining stuck in the past, finding a bit of acceptance in the “right now” is how we can keep the mind clean, clear and calm. By staying away from the “unclean” thoughts (fear, anxiety, ego, possessions) we open up space for authentic, kind and pure mind space. Maintaining cleanliness in our bodies, minds, and surroundings, we create an environment that supports our overall well-being and spiritual growth. This inner and outer cleanliness allows us to live more freely and joyfully, aligned with our true purpose. VUORI CLOTHING x VICYASA™ On Wednesday February 26th, we had a filled store for an AMAZING meet/greet and flow at the Vuori flagship store in SOHO. Shout-out to all that showed, made it a fun evening and got some goodies. BIG THANKS TO VUORI CLOTHING!!! 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. Here are some of the key topics I have programmed into varying syllabuses:
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: 3/3/2025 NO CLASSES TUESDAY: 3/4/2025 NO CLASSES WEDNESDAY: 3/5/2025 NO CLASSES THURSDAY: 3/6/2025 NO CLASSES FRIDAY: 3/7/2025 NO CLASSES SATURDAY: 3/8/2025 NO CLASSES SUNDAY: 3/9/2025 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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 Here is part 2 of our Teacher Feature with my colleague and co-host of ‘The Wild Heart’ Yoga retreat -which is right around the corner - the amazing Luna Castilho. Get to know her a tad more... and come meet her March 31 - April 6 at Villa Pescadores in Tulum Mexico during our yoga getaway.
QUESTION: What are challenging poses for you? What pose are you looking to advance in? LUNA: Surprisingly backbends have always been challenging for me. But the pose I'd like to truly master is the handstand. QUESTION: How would you describe your classes? LUNA: My classes are weird, playful and grounding! You can expect powerful flows combined by mindful contemplations and grounding experiences, as well as somatic release, working the body, mind, soul and spirit. On vinyasa I love giving space for people to play and have fun (arm balances, handstands) and tons of pranayama. On Yin yoga classes, meditation, restorative or sound baths, my goal is to help you release, reflect, quiet the mind and heal. QUESTION: Do you like working out at night, or during the day? Time you like to practice? LUNA: I don’t like early mornings, you will see me rarely working out at that time. I feel the most alive and energetic from 11-6pm, so usually that’s the time I practice power vinyasa or other modalities of strength training, cardio or martial arts. QUESTION: Standing one-legged poses or arm balances? Why? LUNA: I don’t even need to think about it too much to answer this question. (Laughing) Although I appreciate a full rounded practice and I learn to appreciate so many different layers of yoga, I absolutely looooove arm balances. I can safely admit they were the reason that I got into yoga in the first place. And that’s the reason you see me teaching them so much and giving plenty of opportunities for my students to play. Arm balances make me feel like a kid again. I was never a flexible person, but I have always been strong, so arm balances were my doorway to yoga. As my practice evolved I started to appreciate so many other aspects of yoga, meditation, stillness, etc. But I still love the surprise look at someone’s face when they realize how strong a woman can actually be! QUESTION: What are you looking forward to on our "The Wild Heart" Retreat? LUNA: Every single thing!! (laughs) The Wild Heart Retreat will be special!! I’m excited about every single thing we are planning, from the crafted yoga classes and workshops, to the mayan jungle, pyramid, cenotes, hikes and experiences. Plus the incredible community that is joining us!! Looking forward to connecting with like-minded people, the stunning beaches, the Mexican sun, the blue water, the daily yoga classes, meditation, journaling and breathwork. The Retreat is a true opportunity to reset, reconnect and set new goals, release, re-start, re-center. Yoga retreats have always been a true healing experience for me! I can't wait to hold space and connect with all of you! QUESTION: What do you love about Sui Yoga? LUNA: I’ve been at Sui since day one. I saw Sui grow from one studio with 2 students attending, two with a full day full schedule, 2 simultaneous studios with 45 people each. We’ve grown! And I think what is special at Sui besides the well crafted teachers and space, is that Sui provides us a place to be ourselves! We don’t ask the teachers to fit a certain box, every single one of us is so different and yet we have so much to offer. As we allow the teachers to be themselves and share their craft, we allow the students to connect with teachers on a deeper level. Sui is not meant to be a workout place, Sui is meant to be a holistic healing space, that among many things allow us to move. We aim to incorporate the true meaning of yoga, union of the body, mind and spirit. Follow Luna on Instagram HERE and check out her official website: HERE. 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!  Hello HOT Yogi,
Join me in-studio at SUI YOGA [180 6th ave., New York, NY 10013] for a FREE HOT yoga class hosted by Vuori Clothing and Sui Yoga! This fun, empowering & invigorating class will be a foundational strong practice, emphasizing core strength and alignment of breath with movement. Please bring your own mat and anything else you may need. Studio facilities will be available to all. RSVP to reserve your spot! LINK: CLICK HERE When? Sunday, June 25th at 9:30 am at SUI Yoga. This collaboration is sponsored by Vuori, which makes "premium performance apparel inspired by the active Coastal California lifestyle; an integration of fitness, surf, sport, and art. Breaking down the boundaries of traditional activewear, we are A New Perspective on Performance Apparel™." SUI YOGA members... you can inquire about the event in-studio. We'll have promo codes for studio and Vuori purchases. If you have any questions, hit me up via email. Love and light, NAMASTE, Victor Cotto www.YogaWithVictor.com Instagram: CottoVic Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™ “Yoga is invigoration in relaxation. Freedom in routine. Confidence through self control. Energy within and energy without.”  Yoga and meditation encourage you to turn your focus inward and to listen to your deeper, more intuitive thoughts. As you gain more insight into your true nature, your values and your goals become much clearer. From such a loving, sacred place within yourself, you can make decisions about what you want, and don’t want, in life. By living such an authentic life you are showing nothing but love for yourself.
Despite years of regular weekly lessons, practitioners may not be able to draw their attention inwards and one reason sometimes is due to an emphasis on competitive achievement. People’s competitive sides often prevent the mind from directing inward. This competitive way of directing attention outwardly during yoga lessons does not lead into deep practices. Prematurely focusing on advanced postures is another reason for not tapping into higher states of yoga. Many years ago, students did not have access to the numerous pictures of complex yoga postures that are seen scattered across the internet. One method of teaching had the teacher only demonstrating the next and more advanced posture when the aspirant was ready to receive the new knowledge. In such schools, beginners did not practice with or even look into advanced classes. In this manner the student remained blank, their attention focused on a present practice and not future possibilities. The direction the student took was decided by the teacher, based on the innate talent of the student. Regardless of where you are in your practice, yoga will teach you to appreciate your body and its abilities. It’s common to start yoga and think you should immediately be able to do an inversion or arm balance and when you can’t - we beat ourselves up for it. It doesn’t take long, however, before the essence of yoga grabs you and you become aware of the negative self-talk and find a way to switch it off. The more you turn up and tune in, the easier this gets. The more you come to see your body in a different light and realise that it is truly amazing. We then cherish what we can do, what we can accomplish and not look at ourselves with judgement, but with a love that only comes through when we embrace a practice that is devoted and adoring the self. FREE YOGA IN-PERSON... AT SUI YOGA! Join me in-store at SUI YOGA [180 6th avenue, New York, NY 10013] for a yoga class hosted by Sui Yoga & Vuori Clothing! This fun, empowering & invigorating class will be a foundational practice, emphasizing core strength and alignment of breath with movement. Please bring your own mat and anything else you may need. YES... we'll have goodies and giveaways for attendees. RSVP to reserve your spot! When? Sunday, June 25th at 9:30 am. This collaboration is sponsored by Vuori, which makes "premium performance apparel inspired by the active Coastal California lifestyle; an integration of fitness, surf, sport, and art. Breaking down the boundaries of traditional activewear, we are A New Perspective on Performance Apparel™." SUI YOGA members... you can inquire about the event in-studio. We'll have promo codes for studio and Vuori purchases. $200 UNLIMITED ALL SUMMER Want yoga for the next 81 days at a discounted price? That's $2.46 a day to invest in yourself and your yoga practice. On-demand classes, unlimited live sessions for $200 and you'll have all the perks till August 31, 2023. Lock up this deal now. 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 below as well featured on our on-demand options... YOGA AT OHHHMMM LIVE VIRTUAL SCHEDULE: MONDAY: 6/12/023
*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™  Join us in-store at SUI YOGA[180 6th ave., New York, NY 10013] for a yoga class hosted by ME and Sui Yoga!
This fun, empowering & invigorating class will be a foundational practice, emphasizing core strength and alignment of breath with movement. Please bring your own mat and anything else you may need. Following the class, we'll have goodies and giveaways for attendees. RSVP to reserve your spot! LINK: CLICK HERE When? Sunday, June 25th at 9:30 am. This collaboration is sponsored by Vuori, which makes "premium performance apparel inspired by the active Coastal California lifestyle; an integration of fitness, surf, sport, and art. Breaking down the boundaries of traditional activewear, we are A New Perspective on Performance Apparel™." SUI YOGA members... you can inquire about the event in-studio. We'll have promo codes for studio and Vuori purchases. If you have any questions, hit me up via email. Love and light, V 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 love and light, V “August is like the Sunday of summer.” -- unknown  As we countdown the Summer, be mindful of the cooling and calming approach of our practice, especially with the potential frenzied entrance into the September season where change can be abundant and the shift can be a drastic one.
To balance the heat-waves and energy harnessed by the summer season, aim to cultivate the opposite environment on the inside of the body — cool and calm. During this time of year, a good counter for high energy would be to create a lunar current within the body by focusing on activities and foods that are cooling. This approach will nourish your system and help increase your energy levels. Moon Salutations, Sun salutations (with walk forwards), supported backbends, legs up a wall to close practice, wide legged forward folds and floor twists all send a calming wave through the nervous system and serve the body’s attempts to self-regulate. Hint: a lil' mint essential oil sprinkled on the mat provides a exhiliating cooling effect too. IN THE COMING WEEKS... We'll have Erin Giordano, Karen Hyland and Tanya Mgrdechian back on the schedule and we'll continue to provide a full schedule of sessions and into the weekends. The staff thanks you greatly for the support. OUTDOOR CLASSES... September is usually a warm weather month and we'll continue to schedule outdoor classes on weekends. Subscribers, please check your emails early in the week for enrollment. YOGA AT OHHHMMM VIRTUAL SCHEDULE: MONDAY: 8/30/2021
*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. UPDATED RATES:(when submitting payment, in note section state email for delivery of services)
PAYMENT: VENMO -- @Vicyasa Paypal -- [email protected] The team thanks you all for the support! NAMASTE, Victor Cotto www.YogaWithVictor.com Instagram: CottoVic Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™ “Humanity is in her infancy, so start enjoying the journey.”  Over the next few weeks, subscribers, stay tuned in for our expanding outdoor schedule, as we'll have evening virtual classes and the option to practice with the likes of Karen Hyland at NYC parks as well. As always, subscribers and supporters of this platform will have first dibs to lock in on this in-person outdoor sessions. Also, I will continue to give FREE in-person HOT classes; varying giveaways during virtual sessions, via email or during in-person events. Last week's event at Glass House Yoga was stunning... with amazing views of Manhattan from the Greenpoint Terminal market in Brooklyn. The immersive beats pumped through the headphones, the tents set up to shelter you from the sun and blazing heat... more to come at that open space venue in the future.  YOGA AT OHHHMMM VIRTUAL SCHEDULE: (Hot in-person, Outdoor Classes/Events this week for active subscribers only - times and days not indicated on schedule)
MONDAY: 6/14/2021
*ALL CLASSES EST *SESSIONS 60 MINUTES UNLESS NOTED *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. RATES:(when submitting payment, in note section state email for delivery of services)
PAYMENT: VENMO -- @Vicyasa Paypal -- [email protected] The team thanks you all for the support! NAMASTE, Victor Cotto www.YogaWithVictor.com Instagram: CottoVic Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™   A special thanks to Queens Scene for featuring our wildly popular outdoor Yoga sessions.
QS is a "magazine devoted to the lifestyle and trends of our neighborhood." Whether it is nightlife, adventure, art or anything community related, the online magazine is " devoted to the lifestyle and trends" of Queens. Check out the link to the feature (CLICK HERE). “Be music always. Keep changing the keys, tones, pitch, and volume of each of the songs you create along your life's journey and play on.”  Listening to music and practicing yoga are activities that despite their differences are inherently similar: They make us feel good and enhance our wellbeing. They both speak the universal language of happiness and joy. When you combine both... it's a wondrous feeling to get into a flow state. I love curating music for classes. I love classes that have a synced up playlist with a on point flow. That's why I ensure the hundreds of playlist provided set a tone and help carry you through a flow state during our sessions. BROOKLYN ANNOUNCEMENT: On Saturday June 5th at 1:00 pm, I'll be leading a fun hour class at Glass House Yoga located at the Greenpoint Terminal Market in Brooklyn. The class will be held outdoors, with the best views of the NYC Skyline and to ensure the best possible experience, sound-blocking headphones (to pump some fun beats into your body and mind), sanitized mats and yoga blocks will be provided. A GREAT VALUE AT $25! Join me for some fun in the sun and flow-action outdoors in BK!!   CLICK HERE FOR THE SITE & TO REGISTER.
YOGA AT OHHHMMM VIRTUAL SCHEDULE: (Hot in-person, Outdoor Classes/Events this week for active subscribers only - times and days not indicated on schedule) MONDAY: 5/31/2021
*ALL CLASSES EST *SESSIONS 60 MINUTES UNLESS NOTED *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. RATES:(when submitting payment, in note section state email for delivery of services)
PAYMENT: VENMO -- @Vicyasa Paypal -- [email protected] The team thanks you all for the support! NAMASTE, Victor Cotto www.YogaWithVictor.com Instagram: CottoVic Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™ |
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