Okay.

This NY Times article is furiously making its Facebook rounds, and I’ve now been emailed this article enough times that I compelled to say something about it. There’s been quite a bit of a yoga buzz in the news of late. Perhaps this is par for the course, being that it’s the season of New Year’s resolutions and all.

Part of the reason this one article is spreading like wildfire is that the headline borders on fear-mongering, basically shouting from the mountaintops about how dangerous yoga can be.

Well, duh.

Just like anything else, yoga has its risks. Many factors can amplify these risks, including taking class from teachers who are inexperienced and therefore lack the knowledge and wisdom to give proper instruction or advice. You can also take class from teachers who teach for more dubious, less-than-honorable reasons, and there isn’t really a positive way to enumerate those reasons so I’ll just leave it at that.**

In my training to become a teacher (and mind you, we’re talking a 7-month-long immersion, not your weekend-warrior-presto-change-o-now-you’re-suddenly-a-yoga-teacher kind of “training”…not to toot my horn here, but it’s true), we were told over and over that yoga isn’t about the poses, matter of fact they are just a small part of the journey.

But, it’s not just about the teacher. Yes, a yoga teacher’s number one responsibility is to provide a safe space, as awesome and insightful yogi Alison Hinks points out. If you read between the lines in the NY Times article, it becomes clear that the real “danger” lies within both teachers and students: ego. Yep, that means you and me both, yogi.

Again, I’m not saying that yoga isn’t without its risks. Glenn Black, one of the veteran yoga teachers featured in the NYT article, contends that “the vast majority of people” should give up yoga altogether because “It’s simply too likely to cause harm.” I happen to think that’s a bit extreme. It might be closer to the truth to say that folks shouldn’t practice for the wrong reasons.

It is never a bad idea to consider why we are “doing yoga”, before, during, and after we practice. “Doing yoga” to get “yoga butt” (and I can’t even believe there’s actually a wikipedia article on that)…not a good reason.  ”Doing yoga” to be able to “do _____ ” (fill in the pose name)…also probably not the best reason.

Yoga isn’t just exercise. Yoga isn’t just deriving life-appropriate truisms from teachers waxing philosophic while you happen to be getting a workout. Yoga is largely — in fact one might say exclusively —  about developing awareness. Awareness of the self at all levels. One of my teachers here in Seattle, Troy Lucero – for whom I have the utmost respect for his no-frills style, deep insight, and way with words — teaches that yoga is about accessing our entire “neural net”; it’s about spreading the awareness throughout the body, so it doesn’t just sit “in that vague area behind the face.”

For this yogi, that’s reason enough to practice AND to teach. That, and this lady:

Mrs. Calman, Amazing Australian "Yoga Grandma"

**Not to mention that the original title of this blog post was “The Case for Regulation (i.e., Not Yoga Alliance)”

Image: flickr user Muffet

I recently walked into a very busy yoga studio and asked if I could leave some postcards advertising Phyzz’s upcoming trip to India this February. The person behind the desk literally raised an eyebrow at me and motioned suspiciously, “Let me see’em.” After taking a look, they huffed, “Sorry, can’t post’em. We already have people in-house that are going to India.”

At some point in recent history, many studios adopted a policy of not allowing the display of yoga activities, classes, and/or workshops at competing yoga studios. These policies have been enforced to varying degrees, but competing? Really? Is that what we’re doing?

I get it. These are hard times for many. I get that business is business is business and that you can’t just roll over and fork money over to the next yogi who’s just trying their damndest to survive and keep their livelihood alive.

But I’m using this piece of real estate on the Interwebs today to remind you (and myself) of an ostensibly familiar concept called Aparigraha - one of the Yamas, or self-restraints in the 8 Limbs system of yoga.  Aparigraha is a Sanskrit word that means non-grasping, non-possessiveness, or, more simply put, greedlessness.

With all that’s going on in the world right now with regard to the economy I ask: Do we, as yogis, really want to mirror the paradigm of the few controlling the resources of what should be available to the many?

Again, as a business owner myself, I get that it makes business sense to take measure to stand out amidst the competition. There is a certain amount of “win” drive that one must access in order to make a living.

But how healthy is it to cling to our attachments to wealth and prosperity, to the point where we pointedly institute policies and measures that inhibit the proliferation of yoga as a whole? Don’t we want more people — in fact, as many people as possible —  to experience the joy of yoga? Isn’t that what we’re about as teachers, students, and stewards of this 5000-year old science?

C’mon, what are we really doing here, people?

Image: flickr user David Paul Ohmer

As a yoga teacher that specializes in “bringing yoga to the workplace and other unique spaces”, I’ve seen a wide range of spaces.

I’ve taught in conference rooms, parks, theater lobbies, college auditoriums, classrooms, tropical palapas, kitchens, rooftops, organic smoothie joints, and a whole lot of other places.

As far as yoga in the workplace goes, however, some spaces really lend themselves to holding a yoga class, while in other situations, my students and I get to use our noggins to transform it so that there’s enough room for mats and the people on them.

Here are three notable workplace makeovers:

Salmon Bay Lending

(Read about their yoga experience here). Upon entry you’re greeted by a cute reception area with tile floors and great natural light, with a screened-off section that holds a round conference table….a yoga class in here? Really?

Then the chairs go in the closet, a few helping hands move furniture, and…voila! Room for the entire office of 7 ladies to share a yoga class together!

Office Nomads

(Read about their yoga experience here) Open and spacious, but also divvied up into sections with “pods” of desks. We hold our yoga class in the back part of the joint called “The Cafe”, which is intended to be a more casual modifiable, multi-purpose space.

Phyzz has been teaching yoga at Office Nomads for over two years as of this writing, and although layout of The Cafe has evolved over the years, the Office Nomads yogis (Office “YOmads” or, more affectionately, ONOYOgis) and I have got the act of clearing the space for yoga down to a science. So much so that sometimes we can even get a little creative…

The Hutch (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

(Hey, this class made the local news! Watch the VIDEO.) I can’t say enough about the fact that, not only have I been teaching at the Hutch since 2003 (that’s over 8 years as of this post), but I wasn’t the first person to teach yoga there, and neither was the person before me, nor the person before that person. It’s accurate to say that there has been a yoga class at The Hutch for nearly TWO DECADES. They are certainly one of the most dedicated group of students I teach.

Perhaps it’s because the conference room in which we’ve been practicing (it’s changed floors a couple of times, but the layout and furniture have remained the same) has a stunning view of Lake Union, and the tables are so incredibly easy to move you can do it within the span of a minute.

Here, let me prove it to you. The Wondertables: Clearing Space For Yoga At The Hutch (VIDEO)

UPDATE: Registration might be officially closed (I say “might” because I’m waiting on a couple of strong yeses to confirm)! For the first time ever, I may have to turn folks away from coming on a yoga retreat with me. Which is a great and not-so-great problem to have, as I would LOVE to accept everyone that wants to come and spend a quiet weekend deepening their practice with yours truly and others.

But the truth is, a group can get too big and unwieldy in these sorts of settings. So in the interest of preserving a sense of intimacy during the weekend, I may have to close registration this weekend.

A BIG, SLOPPY-KISS THANK YOU to the amazing folks that are coming to OPI with Phyzz in November! Remember, there’s still India, and Mexico next year!

—

Here’s the deal.

I recently learned about the awesomeness that is Olympic Park Institute. It sits on right on sparkling Lake Crescent in the Olympic National Park. It’s totally gorgeous, and a very special place. So special, in fact, that I’m planning my own wedding there next August!

During the wedding planning process, it occurred to me that it would be a great place for a retreat, and it turns out this is the only weekend that it’s available the rest of the year. So, I’m putting the word out there to see if there is enough interest, so please feel free to pass this email on and help spread the word!

We need at least 5 people to make this thing go, so if you’re seriously considering it, please let me know ASAP.

A Pre-Winter Weekend Yoga Retreat

Where: Olympic Park Institute on beautiful Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park

When: Nov 4-6, 2011

Schedule (subject to change):

Friday, Nov 4th

Arrive afternoon

Mellow early evening yoga practice

Dinner served

After dinner short sit, followed by free time

Saturday, Nov 5th

Optional early morning sit

Morning yoga practice

Free time for reflection and to explore the beautiful lake and surrounding forest trails

Lunch

Afternoon free time

Early evening yoga practice

Dinner + social time

Short sit

Sunday, Nov 6th

Optional early morning sit

Morning yoga practice

Breakfast

Free time

Lunch available if desired

Farewells, departure

Cost:

The cost for this beautiful weekend would be $335, which would include all meals, accommodations, and yoga and meditation classes.

The price is for shared accommodations in modern, heated cabins that includes a central common space with four or six private rooms. Each room sleeps two to six guests with an adjacent bathhouse available with private restroom and showers. Wheelchair accessible facilities are available.  A limited number of non-shared, private accommodations are available for an additional $60 per night.

Registration:

Email karen@phyzzyoga.com or call 206.214.5169 for more info or to register. I also posted a Facebook event invite to get the word out about this retreat, so there’s that.

Happy Birthday to Me!

We’re so accustomed to not being able to sit still, so much so that the idea of even trying to meditate is laughable to some. Or, even if we’re able to somehow cajole our minds into some state that resembles absolute focus, the effort and effect is only momentary.

Which got me to thinking…is there anything in our lives that involves time and being in the space of a “moment” that humans are actually good at?

Then it dawned on me, having just celebrated a birthday, that the process of aging is inherently impossible to rush. Whether you turn 2, 11, 37 or 98, it doesn’t matter…once you’re “in” an age, you’re firmly rooted in that “moment” of our life. Chances are that when pressed to recall a life event, you’ll look back and refer to either the year or your age at the time.

Passage of Time II by Riebart on flickr

Getchyer motors runnin’ folks, cuz we’re going to India!

Bikes in Varanasi (Image Copyright Phyzz Yoga)

Next February, I’ll be leading an amazing uncommon voyage to India next year with one of my beloved teachers, Patti Hammerle. We’ve put together an amazing, life-transforming itinerary. Won’t you join us?

Here’s the skinny:

Black Bee LLC and Phyzz Yoga Present…Purusha: An Uncommon Voyage to India

In Sanskrit, Purusha literally means “dweller in the city, ” referring to the spiritual Self that resides in the “city” of the body; the eternal, omnipresent, indestructible, unchanging entity that is the essence of everything in the universe.  Join us as we explore the rich, wonderful, chaotic, historical, and spiritual “bodies”of India with heightened senses and open hearts.

Our guide is Patricia Hammerle, fluent in Hindi, veteran traveler and lover of India. Patti has done graduate work in both Hindi and Sanskrit at the University of Washington, and currently teaches both privately and at the Seattle Language Academy.

We will see the country by plane, train, and automobile – traveling as locals do. Simple and deluxe accommodations.

Dates

Feb 16 – Mar 7, 2012*

*Program begins in New Delhi late evening on the 16th; plan to leave Seattle on the 15th. Accommodations include the night of March 7th.

Highlights

Parts South:

• Mount Arunachala: believed by locals to represent the whole world; circumambulation brings liberation of the soul; Ramana Maharishi ashram
• Chidambaram: One of the 5 holiest Shiva temples in India, where prayers continue to be conducted since their inception their thousands of years ago
• Pondicherry: The French Riviera of the East, Sri Aurobindo ashram

Parts North:

• Varanasi: city of Shiva, also known as Kashi, a center of pilgrimage and sacred ritual; ghats and boat ride along the sacred Ganges River, experience the ancient ritual of Aarti Puja
• Delhi: the teeming capitol, music, temples, Sikh Gurudwara chant, Sufi Qawwali, Old Delhi

Registration and Payment

• Cost: 3,150
• Deposit: $300 ($150 non-refundable) to register. Remainder due in full by December, or over 3 payments in September, November, and January.
• Limited availability. Email india@phyzzyoga.com to register, or for more information.

Inclusions

• All in-country travel (Seattle to India airfare not included in the trip cost)
• All accommodations
• All classes and group activities (hiking, temple fees, yoga, meditation, chanting, etc. as available)
• 2 meals daily

Hindi Classes

To prepare for the trip, basic Hindi classes with Patti are available, price dependent upon group interest. Please indicate interest when registering.