by Isabelle on May 11, 2011
Today, a friend and I were discussing consciousness as being Yoga primordial pursuit and goal through the numerous practices. Both in Philosophy and in Yoga, consciousness is a key exploration on all levels: physical, mental, energetic, psychological and of course spiritual.
What is consciousness? where is it located? Where does it come from? What is the difference between awareness and consciousness? Did matter precede consciousness or did consciousness created matter?
Awareness can be defined as having knowledge or understanding of one self, others and the environment.
Consciousness is the condition of being awake and aware at once and of cultivating a higher mental & spiritual energy.
by Isabelle on April 27, 2011
As a Yoga Teacher, my beginners students often say that they “want to learn how to Breath”.
Yoga does not teach us to breath because we do breath effortlessly since birth.
In Yoga and Pranayama ( breathing techniques), we learn how to first UNDO the physical, mental and emotional tensions we hold in our body. It is those contractions that inhibit our breath by reducing the movement and our breath/ lung capacity.
How can you release those tensions?
Step 1- It all starts with simple relaxation on your back with your hands on your belly. Relax your abdomen and your entire body. Watch the rise and the fall of your abdomen under your hands. Notice where you hold tensions and consciously let go, release and relax even deeper. Cultivate abdominal breathing every night before you fall asleep.
Step 2- Now you can start to consciously deepen your breath with the Yogic dual nostril breath called “Ujayi” either lying down on your back or in a crossed legged seated position. You want to inhale and exhale through both nostrils. After a few rounds, add a soft sound in the back of your throat by gently contracting the glottis at the back of your throat. Listen to the sound of your breath like ocean waves coming and going.
This slow rhythmic breath when practiced for a few minutes daily is soothing, calming and balancing for your nervous system.
It will enhance your sleep. It will also help you reduce, manage and prevent stress in your life.
by Isabelle on March 15, 2011
I met my first Yoga Teacher, May Kazan, in my mother’s pharmacy in Paris, France where I grew up. I was 14 years old and curious about everything. May Kazan was working as a helper to make some extra money. She exuded a strong presence and a striking beauty with a tall standing grounded posture. I could see that she was connected to the earth as she was standing centered and calm. She is half Lebanese,
half French with long dark hair and caramel skin. After I found out, she was a Yoga Teacher. I asked her right away if she would teach me Yoga. Lucky me, she agreed. It was more intuitive than anything on my part.
A few days later, here I was, taking the Parisian metro to the American Center and entering into this big room filled with students from all walks of life. I “fell in love” with Yoga right there. I can still remember and feel in my body this amazing feeling of relaxation, spaciousness and freedom I experienced after my first Yoga class. My shoulders relaxed, my face and my heart softened. I had found a way to cope with my chaotic family back then. I also experienced a spiritual connection that I had always longed for in my childhood: an anchor and a map to embrace the flux and challenges of life.
I returned time after time 3-4 times a week to dive again into that new delightful feeling. Yoga gave me invaluable tools for life: self reflection and a deeper understanding of reality.
From that day on, May and I embarked on a long interweaving partnership. I became her assistant at the American Center, a vibrant happening cultural center in downtown Paris.
Nearly 3 years later when I turned 17, I received a special birthday gift. May called me and commanded me that I teach for her that same evening. I was scared at first and declined. But she hung up the phone. I gathered my inner strength and courage and stood in front of the 20 some students. Surprisingly, I felt at ease. This was when I realized I had found my purpose: my dharma.
Be in the flow until next time,
Isabelle
by Isabelle on February 3, 2011
Many of you have been looking forward to a centralized place where you would be able to keep up to date with my Yoga Retreats, Workshops and Classes. I have been working very hard with my team and now am very excited to have YogaFlowRetreat.com here.
