tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67948496743723900462024-03-13T21:41:58.427-07:00Yoga with Corinne RositaAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12147364860495707629noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794849674372390046.post-72597777079426258342016-02-10T12:50:00.002-08:002016-02-10T12:50:32.136-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong>The practice of Yoga and the Art of riding Classical Spanish Dressage</strong></h2>
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<br />This is a good follow up to the previous blog that spoke of the 8 limbs of yoga and how they relate to riding. </h3>
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Recently I began riding in a formal arena again after more than 10 years and after swearing I would never do another 20 meter circle ever again. In the past I had trained with some wonderful teachers here in Costa Rica. They were and are skilled riders and teachers. I purposefully left the life of arena riding and formal dressage lessons so many years ago because I felt something was missing from my riding. That something was a true and honest connection to my horse. This was not the fault of my teachers. I was not ready to understand and reach out for that connection at the time.</div>
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After many years of trail riding, mostly bareback and bridle less, I experienced that joyful and trusting connection true horse people have with their equine partners. I could not articulate that special relationship I developed with my horse but instinctively I knew this was what had been lacking in my previous arena training.</div>
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A true connection with your horse is simply an honest two-way conversation between you and your horse. It doesn't have to be mystical or magical, although sometimes it certainly feels like it is! It is the product of learning about general horse behavior and physiology. It is the natural result of becoming more aware and sensitive to one's own energy and how that is transmitted to and reacted to by your horse.</div>
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The practice of Yoga offers us daily opportunities to learn and experience lessons that we take to our horse training sessions. In yoga, as in dressage riding, mental preparation, soft mindful breath, mental conviction, and a gentle approach are the foundation to achieve union in Yoga and in Riding.</div>
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That is the attitude I bring to my yoga practice and now to my riding lessons. Every 20 meter circle, diagonal , or transition is an opportunity to forge and enhance my connection and communication with my horse. Knowing that my breath, mental resolve, and gentle manner are positively and constructively received by my horse has improved my riding. <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12147364860495707629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794849674372390046.post-68202066893348387072016-02-10T12:35:00.000-08:002016-02-10T12:35:05.802-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Combining yogic principals to your classical dressage training</b></h2>
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The beauty of Yoga is in its timelessness. It is as applicable now as it was 6000 years ago.<br />
The practice of Yoga is to find harmony and oneness. <br />
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<span style="color: #8d6d6b; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Yoga is a light, which once lit, will never dim. The better your practice, the brighter the flame.</span><br />
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B.K.S. Iyengar</div>
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A yoga practice gives us the tools to experience ourselves this blissful union and bright light.</div>
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Classical riding is a type of Yoga. It is a true expression of two souls not only communicating but dancing as one.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> We strive to approach both practices with an open heart and mind. Just as we use our intellect to help quiet our mind during our yoga asana practice we take that same calm and quiet mind to help us "hear" what our horse is saying to us. When our bodies are still and our mind is quiet then only can we hear and understand what our horse is communicating and respond accordingly. When our own emotions are controlled yet open and aware; it is in that moment that we are ready to communicate in an honest fashion with our horse. It is in that perfect moment that we can ask our horse to learn or perform a particular movement.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> A yoga practice shows us how to be masters of our levels of energy. We can control whether the type of energy we put out into the world is soft, calm, determined, or chaotic, frenetic, angry, or sad, frustrated and anxious. When we work with horses we constantly monitor their energy output and adjust ours. Sometimes it is just the opposite, we first adjust our energy level and persuade our equine partner to mirror it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> The 8 limbs of Yoga as espoused by Pantanjali more than 5000 years ago is a blueprint to achieving this perfect harmony and union within ourselves and with our horses. We follow the Yamas and Niyamas in order to learn and perfect our moral behavior , personally, and within society. The Yamas and Niyamas are a list of do's and don'ts, much like the 10 commandments. As we perfect these behaviors we begin to practice yoga postures, yoga breathing, and the first steps leading to meditation. These are, yoga asanas, yoga pranayama, and yoga pratyahara. Through these practices we condition the physical body and begin to gain control over the mind. The last three limbs are dharana, dhyana, and samadhi. Dharana and Dhyana are stepping stones to achieve self-realization or samadhi. Dharana is one-point focuss, a type of mind exercise to help steady and quiet the thoughts. Dhyana is comtemplation; finding the union in your thoughts and in meditation. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> The observance of the 8 limbs helps prepare us physically and emotionally to work with and ride our horses. We become masters of our mind and masters of the type and intensity of energy we expend. We communicate with our horses more with our mind and levels of energy than we do with our physical aids. Classical dressage training and riding are founded on this precept.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span></span><em style="background-color: white; color: brown; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.9px;">"The apex of perfection in equestrian art is not an exhibition of a great deal of different airs and movements by the same horse, but rather the conservation of the horse's enjoyment, suppleness and finesse during the performance, which calls for comparison with the finest ballet, or performance of an orchestra, or seeing a play by Racine, so moving is the sight of perfectly unisoned movements." ~ Nuno Oliveira</em></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12147364860495707629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794849674372390046.post-78542270457736817162015-07-06T22:39:00.000-07:002015-07-06T22:39:32.780-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Which YTT is right for you?</h2>
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I can only tell you my personal experience and hope it helps you make your decision. I already knew my priority was to go the source and that meant traveling to India. I wanted to be as close to the culture and origins of Yoga as possible. Second, I wanted knowledge. I felt pretty comfortable with the whole teaching part of the course, I wanted the content, and not just the physical anatomy of each asana, I wanted to know the philosophy behind each pose.</div>
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I was bound by the time of year I could travel to India, so that was an easy parameter for me to plug into the equation. For my second YTT I wanted to learn more about Yoga Therapy; aha! My second parameter. And thirdly I wanted to go to a working Yoga clinic to learn and see yoga therapy in play. I chose Andiappan YTT in Chenai. Guruji runs a school and clinic and offers 200 and 300 hour YTT for teachers and therapists. To this day I remember my time there fondly and refer often to my notes taken in class. The training I received has been invaluable to me in my personal practice and in my teaching career.</div>
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My third training ,which completed my 500 hours in YTT, had to be in the mountains of India, again near the source of Yoga, and I wanted more yoga philosophy and literature to be part of the training. I researched several schools until I came across a review of Association for Meditation and Yoga in Rishikesh that praised the teacher and the course content. All my criteria were met. Rishikesh is a holy city in the foothills of the Himalayas, the Ganges run through the city, and the YTT offered the topics I wanted to learn. As with my first and second training, this course further deepened my own practice and has given me the skills and knowledge to better guide the yoga students that share yoga with me.</div>
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Knowing how I researched my own YTT training I want to be as clear as I can when describing the YTT our school offers. I planned the curriculum to reflect my priorities in teaching and in content. My hope was and is to offer students an opportunity to live a yoga life style for those 2 to 3 weeks they attend the YTT course. </div>
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I firmly believe that Yoga must be experienced. Side by side with each lecture class we offer real learning demonstrations, practicums and student teaching opportunities, from Day one of the course.</div>
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As Patanjali in the Sutras states one needs " right knowledge, right wisdom to practice yoga." And, an often quoted adage by BKS Iyengar, "Words cannot convey the value of yoga – it has to be experienced."</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12147364860495707629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794849674372390046.post-50902514586531839102015-07-06T22:07:00.003-07:002015-07-06T22:07:49.006-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Why do we share yoga with our friends and horses?</div>
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Because it is so much fun!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12147364860495707629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794849674372390046.post-16856144428956285022015-07-06T14:21:00.002-07:002015-07-06T14:21:43.822-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong>The yogic path to connecting with your horse</strong></div>
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<strong>The practice of yoga is like our relationship to horses, both require us to harken back to or childhood days of endless curiosity, spontaneity, and complete lack of self-consciousness.</strong></div>
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Our young rider and yogi comes to class each week with a ready smile and an air of joyful eagerness. He gently reaches out to the horses to kiss and pet them. He doesn't think first and act later. He trusts his own feelings and acts out of joy and instinct. He is only 4 years old and probably cannot articulate the concept, but as his teacher and guide, I can see that his relationship with our horses and his own sense of self-confidence and self-awareness has grown steadily as he spends more and more time with the horses, mounted and on the ground. </div>
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Horses respond to emotions of happiness, contentment, acceptance, and peace. These are all emotions we strive to cultivate through our yoga practice, on and off the mat. Just like this young student, we will find a greater depth of connection to ourselves and to our horses when we let go of our "adult" ego and become like children again.</div>
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Can we approach the challenge of our yoga asana practice with endless curiosity? Not to find out if we can do the more advanced asana but to explore how we feel as we challenge ourselves . Can we use our curiosity to open ourselves up to undiscovered possibilities? Will that curiosity be ego driven or selfless?</div>
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Can we allow ourselves to be open to the learning of the moment? to revel in the spontaneity of our efforts? Will we see the moment as an opportunity to change direction all together; the challenge we thought we were addressing now becomes unimportant as we allow ourselves to be aware of other subtle actions at play.</div>
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As we lose our ego can we look at this asana differently? Perhaps we can approach the asana from a perspective of our breath? Can we view this asana more holistically? Will our efforts become guided by our instincts now instead of our ego consciousness?</div>
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When we delve deeper into our Yoga practice we allow ourselves to remember our childhood's love to explore, to act with intuition, and to lose ourselves completely in the moment. That is YOGA.</div>
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Horses are always experiencing that "moment." They are always in a state of Yoga, or oneness. They freely offer us the opportunity to share this experience with them, we just have to be aware of the invitation. As we do on our yoga mat, when we approach a training objective with our horse, let us try to be curious and open, let us let go of any set rules and trust our intuition, and let us try to merge our ego with that of the horse and become one with him. </div>
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For example: When teaching a young horse to move in a straight line and gently round his body in a turn, sometimes the lesson becomes not about the horse's body position and balance but more about our ability to initiate and maintain a two way dialogue with our horse. </div>
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As riders we are constantly communicating and listening to our horse. We develop the skills to listen, understand and react, all in a timely manner, to what are horse is signalling to us. To do this we must practice Yoga, the art of oneness and union. We consciously allow our inner child to run free. Our sense of curiosity becomes a willingness and openness to explore. We let go of preconceived notions and welcome spontaneous moments of learning to enter our raining sessions.</div>
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I don't know why, but horses are generous and will give back more than two fold what you give to them. So let yourself go. Let your ego fly away. Let your sub-conscious merge with your horse and experience the joy of oneness with this beautiful and noble creature.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12147364860495707629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794849674372390046.post-57800232081148618642015-04-27T21:41:00.004-07:002015-04-27T21:41:27.543-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yoga, Horses, and Young Kids: a Winning Combination</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oQB_uCG9kt_2geqtnE1l4HXFQwUPHe7VYzuy5skILJismqZAog78lDApbAc4nGx8sdcnuZBhakty6oWOe8pj4RKgeE5_vy5fhHgkWLpHGwCbFkeoLix76wPRK2og3bCFos5tp2s75jQ/s1600/IMG_1615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oQB_uCG9kt_2geqtnE1l4HXFQwUPHe7VYzuy5skILJismqZAog78lDApbAc4nGx8sdcnuZBhakty6oWOe8pj4RKgeE5_vy5fhHgkWLpHGwCbFkeoLix76wPRK2og3bCFos5tp2s75jQ/s1600/IMG_1615.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today we had a major breakthrough in our yoga and horseback riding class. Our youngest rider came today for his one hour class. He arrived eager with a smile on his face and, as usual, a million questions; porque?... This young boy is curious about everything! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When he first came to us he was afraid of the horses, the dogs, and the cats. He would cling to his Poppi and shy away from the horses. The first time he actually rode one of our horses was a great feat for all of us. Today, after just 3 classes of riding solo in the arena he asked if he could trot. Previously he was adamantly opposed to doing anything more than a slow shuffle with the horses.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With a smile, and of course many questions, we rode together on Centella, our 18 year old mare, in a trot around and around our arena. What a joy! and then he even cantered for a short time.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Usually after riding in the arena we take a walk around our garden, with one of us walking beside him at all times. Today we did something special; with his riding helmet on and on a lead rein we walked down our driveway and onto our small country lane. This was his first trail ride! He asked if we going far or near. He asked why he had to wear a helmet. He asked why Centella was walking close to my horse, Half-Pint. He asked why and when he could go further. He asked why the road was hard. He asked why we had to turn around and head home. He asked and asked and asked. This kid has an insatiable curiosity about life.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Afterwards he happily helped take off the riding pads and halters and lead the horses to the pasture after saying "muchas gracias" to both of them. </span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Congratulations Matty, good job!</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12147364860495707629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794849674372390046.post-73054708424173905822015-04-04T08:01:00.001-07:002015-04-04T08:01:54.394-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="text-align: left;">What is meditation and how to do it? Oftentimes just the word "meditation" is intimidating. We have images of either ascetic and skinny Indian men sitting motionless in a cave or we have beatific images of a rotund Buddha sitting contentedly under a tree.</span></div>
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For me, as I travel my own yoga journey, meditation has come to mean true mindfullness in every moment. That moment can be during a sunset dance meditation on the beach, or a quiet moment with my horse.<br />
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Being aware of each breath I take and being sensitive to my own emotions for me defines a large part of my yoga practice. Meditation is part of the practice and the goal of the practice.</div>
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Just as yoga is the practice and the goal. The observance of Yoga and of Meditation give us the tools to go further into our practice and deeper into our meditation but these observances are complete in themselves and as such are the goal. Your practice is your achievement.<br />
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There is no sudden arrival at your Yoga, or Union. You experience it every day. As BKS Iyengar said, yoga is 99% practice and 1% theory, do it and all will come.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12147364860495707629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794849674372390046.post-32363714067191037962015-03-28T14:22:00.000-07:002015-03-28T14:22:07.738-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: 15.3333330154419px;">Every time</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> we offer our Yoga in Harmony with Horses </span></span></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">retreats ( that is me and Terry Lillian Newton of Kindred Spirits) we gain just as much or more than our guests. </span></span></b></span><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-align: justify;">In our most recent retreat I received the gift of letting go of my inner </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.3333330154419px; text-align: justify;">dis-harmonies</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-align: justify;"> and realized the joy that act gave me.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.406665802002px; text-align: justify;">We had just ridden one and a half hours in the morning sun through countryside and steep hills. With the help of our ever cheerful volunteer we unsaddled the horses and left them in a shady spot as we hiked through the jungle to the hidden waterfalls and pond. Our guests </span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.406665802002px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 15.3333330154419px; line-height: 16.406665802002px;">marveled</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.406665802002px;"> at the verdant foliage and jungle noises.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Upon reaching the waterfalls we cooled off in the pond and started to have fun and connection with yoga poses. </span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was when we reached the large boulders and tall tree growing literally in the middle of the creek that I found my yoga. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Once we settled into our individual meditations I began to simultaneously chant OM. I felt the vibrations of this primordial and spiritual sound resonate deep in my lower chakras and rise up to my heart chakra. I was in the moment, my thoughts and body in a state of calm and relaxed awareness.</span> </span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12147364860495707629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794849674372390046.post-81946588156137782582015-03-01T13:36:00.002-08:002015-03-01T13:36:53.080-08:00Waterhole Rituals with Linda Salinas: finding true connection with your horse when he is at liberty and allowed to be in full expression<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Horses at liberty, no tack, no restraints, they are free to make their own choices, to decide if they will interact with us or not.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Horses at liberty: a beautiful concept. How do you view your horse? More importantly how does he view you? Is he always in a halter and tack when you interact with him? Does your horse have the joy and freedom to just be a horse when he is with you? </span></div>
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With the spectacular background of Volcano Arenal we sit in a meditation circle to begin our day</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Water Hole Rituals, formualted by Carolyn Resnick, are a simple and elegant group of behaviors that people can emulate with their horses to forge and enhance their connections to them. The premise of the rituals, as I interpret them, is to 1. allow your horse full expression at all times, and 2. to abide by the "rules" of herd behavior, that is we take on the role of lead mare.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As lead mare we are charged with the responsibility to protect and lead our herd, at all times. How does a lead mare guide her herd? She guides from behind, with clarity, integrity, and swiftness. Horses are prey animals and herd animals. They are on the look out for predators and they are searching for the security of a lead mare to keep them safe. </span></div>
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Once a shy horse, leery of human contact, Apache now seeks contact, he trusts his curiosity to initiate and maintain connection</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Linda Salinas guided, coached and encouraged us in a 5 day clinic to appreciate and learn how to "lead" our herd. In order to lead your herd you first make a connection with your horse. When he initiates the contact he is in full expression of his freedom of choice. We can build upon that first contact to deepen our connection so that he sees us as the source of security and comfort, and joy and play. As a yoga practitioner I like to look at this as the true Yoga expression of Union. In Yoga this union is often expressed as the union of body, mind, and spirit. There is harmony and a connectedness among all things. </span></div>
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Two curious beings</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What do we do with this connection? Well, that is up to you. The rituals are tools to help us connect with our horse. Whether you are a competitive or casual rider, this true connection will enhance all your activities together. Your horse will be your happy and willing partner, always curious to see what next fun adventure you two will have, whether in the competition arena or the trail, or your backyard.</span></div>
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Anoushka</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">To learn more about the Water Hole Rituals see Carolyn Resnick and Linda Salinas.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12147364860495707629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794849674372390046.post-53008187165265660202015-02-17T19:48:00.000-08:002015-02-17T19:48:52.062-08:00Yoga horse pranayama in Costa Rica<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Pranayama and your horse</div>
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As practitioners of yoga and natural horsemanship we practice pranayama because we want to enhance our self-awareness and deepen our connection to our horse. </div>
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What is the practice of pranayama? It is the practice of self-awareness through breath control. We know that when we breath slowly and deeply we connect with our parasympathetic nervous system and this promotes relaxation of both our thoughts and our muscles. Just through the control of our breath we can "will" ourselves to relax. </div>
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As practitioners of natural horsemanship we know and appreciate that horses are intuitive animals. One way to deepen our connection to our horse through breath is to do a modified child's pose next to our horse with our hands on his back. In this position we can feel the rhythm of our horses' respiration and in turn he can feel our breath as our bodies gently move in time with each other's inhale and exhale.</div>
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Another technique is to first tune in to your horses' respiration. Take note of the rate and force of his breath. Now try to match his respiration with yours. Once you are in synch with his respiration begin to slow and deepen your own breath. Try to make each inhale deeper and each exhale longer. As you continue with this pranayama your own emotions and physical body will begin to relax. Note the changes in the respiration of your horse. He will follow where your breath leads. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12147364860495707629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794849674372390046.post-63462827396547761752015-02-12T14:24:00.001-08:002015-02-12T14:25:33.248-08:00yoga and natural horsemahnship Costa RIca<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There is a lot of good and bad literature out on the web these days about natural horsemanship. I find it confusing so I imagine a lot of other people do too. I find it useful to read, read and read some more about the practice of natural horsemanship and then put the theories into practice. Having a young horse like Half-Pint makes it fun turning book learning into real riding experiences.<br />
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Just as in Yoga there are many paths so in natural horsemanship are there many ways to practice your training and your interactions with your horse. There are, however, some core principals both espouse. As a yoga practitioner I find the first limb of Yoga by Patanjali works well to describe these common guidelines. (see the 8 limbs of Patanjali and ashtanga yoga)<br />
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What are these common guidelines? If we put them into yoga parlance they would be as follows:<br />
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#1. Yamas : moral guidelines for our behaviour towards oneself and towards others<br />
a. ahimsa: non-violence<br />
b. satya: truth<br />
c. asteya: non-stealing<br />
d. brahmacharya: self discipline, abstinence<br />
e. aparigraha: non-coveting<br />
How can we apply these yamas to our horse training?<br />
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AHIMSA... First, of course, we never want to hurt our horse, physically or emotionally. This means we educate ourselves on the proper care and feeding of our horse. We do not knowingly use negative reinforcement to "teach" a lesson to our horse.<br />
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SATYA...In order to have a honest and truthful communication with our horse we must educate ourselves about the true nature and psychology of our horse. <br />
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ASTEYA...In this case non-stealing means we take care not to take away the liberty and dignity of our horse in our training and care for him. We honour his God-given right to a life of integrity while under our care.<br />
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BRAHMACHARYA...We take care not to let our ego supersede the physical and emotional health of the horses in our care.<br />
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APARIGRAHA...Similar to the practice brahmarcharya, we take care not to let jealousy or other such emotions guide our training practices.<br />
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The very definition of Natural Horsemanship encompasses the Yamas.<br />
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Further the practice of the Niyamas is also an integral part of natural horsemanship.<br />
#2 Niyamas: These are guidelines to individual behaviour.<br />
a. saucha: purity in body, thought, and spirit<br />
b. santosa: contentment<br />
c. tapas: austerity, self-discipline<br />
d. swadyay: self-study<br />
e. isvara pranidhana: dedication to a higher power<br />
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How do we apply the Niyamas to our natural horsemanship practices?<br />
SAUCHA...Horses are extremely intuitive animals and they sometimes know our emotions and thoughts better than we do. When we are with our horses we should take care to have loving and positive thoughts and actions. We are constantly communicating with our horse, even if we are not aware of that communication.<br />
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SANTOSA...When we are in the moment, truly focussed on the matter at hand we experience contentment and that calm demeanour is transferred to our horse.<br />
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TAPAS...Like the niyamas earlier our emotions and actions are always being communicated to our horse. The practice of self-discipline helps to keep us focussed, calm, and attentive to our horses.<br />
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SWADYAY...The more we interact with our horses the more we learn about ourselves. We learn about our capacity for patience, perseverance, compassion and empathy.<br />
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ISVARA PRANIDHANA: The bond we experience with our horses leads us to appreciate and honour a greater universal love and unity than just rationalization can comprehend.<br />
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Further in the Yoga sutras of Patanjali yoga practitioners are admonished to do their practice with the "right knowledge." With regards to natural horsemanship that means we are called to study and learn, to read and ask questions, to always be a student of our horse's physical and psychological make up.<br />
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Here is an example, a simple one but a powerful illustration of right knowledge coupled with the observances of the yamas and niyamas in natural horsemanship.<br />
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Half-Pint has been with us almost a full year now. He is almost 5 years old. He is ridden without a bit, and sometimes without a halter or reins. My priority in all our training sessions is to deepen our connection and our ability to communicate with one another. With that goal in mind as we train together I do figures that will help him strengthen his muscles, increase the range of motion in his joints, and enhance his muscular and skeletal balance.<br />
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He is naturally more stiff in his right turns, meaning he keeps his neck rather straight when turning to the right rather than gently arching his neck and his whole body into a banana shape. To help him soften his left neck muscles I have to first understand the mechanics of how muscles contract and stretch. His ability to turn a balanced right turn is directly dependent on how easily he can relax the left side of his neck. Or you could say his ability to contract the right side of his neck. In Yoga we know that when we contact our front quads our hamstrings automatically lengthen: muscle mechanics of stretching.<br />
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Armed with this knowledge , and coupled with the universal truth that horses move away from pressure , I ask Half-Pint to make a right turn with my outside left rein and leg. My right leg is quiet as is my right rein. Ok, this is not rocket science and all riders know how to make a right turn, the difference in natural horsemanship is that we do not use the introduction of pain or discomfort to teach the right behaviour. Instead we use the observance of the yamas and niyamas to help us. <br />
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I practice the yamas by closely observing Half-Pint's reaction to the lesson. Have we first established a connection where he is ready and eager to begin our lesson? How is he responding? with confusion, rejection, anxiety, contentment and eagerness? I ride without any horse tack that will introduce discomfort to Half-Pint. The lesson is learned by patient repetition and fun figures to keep him curious and eager to see what we are going to do next. <br />
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I observe the niyamas in the same way, by keeping my focus and awareness on the physical and emotional well being of Half-Pint. I only keep the lesson going for as long as I think Half-Pint is enjoying and learning. I respect his feelings and physical condition for that training period. <br />
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Lastly, I have faith in him and me; in the bond we have created between us. <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12147364860495707629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794849674372390046.post-40749560060013646142015-02-12T08:12:00.001-08:002015-02-12T08:12:18.888-08:00Yoga Horses and Costa Rica<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Yoga, horses, and Costa Rica. This Saturday we are honored to receive a training workshop by Don Javier Breton here in Cahuita, Costa Rica. Don Javier is a renown Spanish Classical Rider and Trainer, now living in Costa Rica. He will be demonstrating his training skills on and off the horse for us. Kindred Spirits of Costa Rica has kindly offered the use of their horses for the demonstration but participants are all welcome to bring their own horses also. Unfortunately I cannot bring Half-Pint; that would have been a wonderful experience for the both of us. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures and post them to share with you this weekend.<br />
namaste, corinne</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12147364860495707629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794849674372390046.post-69459955775382720872015-02-09T14:08:00.000-08:002015-02-09T14:08:19.035-08:00Yoga and horses, really?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
For those of you still sceptical or just still wondering about what yoga and horses means here is the answer in pictures. Yoga means union; union of mind, body, and soul. This union expands to mean union of ourselves with the universe around us. Here we see a beautiful and joyous union between the rider and the horse.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12147364860495707629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794849674372390046.post-39920760066544842522015-01-29T19:00:00.001-08:002015-01-29T19:00:02.597-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 40px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yoga practice for you and your horse.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-2cdd5dc5-38c6-7edd-a2e1-39267e5ed0eb" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A yoga practice is good for you and good for your horse. Just as we experience the emotional and physical benefits of a yoga practice so does our equine friend benefit from the slow deep stretches and focussed movements. Add to this the sharing of energy which occurs between rider and horse and you have a winning combination.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="DSCN0466.JPG" height="274px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/mtB3GtioNvaSQmN6bnKL9ikhLo9CkeCkVcrn1wIfTDVQjk1lAbuSvqDh9qovil7JuioYHwqmgP0pVwLXjmnl8OY3sxzzkmGdXWmWuosyu95bzE2STt6eklaw_kakPl6KJQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="155px;" /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Horses respond to gentle stretches like we do; they enjoy the sensations provoked by the stretch and correspondingly they mentally and physically become more relaxed. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="DSCN0582.JPG" height="351px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Z5WSh29NLaRiarHqMGYnWAH5uosj_JNyvcEp2_I7I0bxPzYENTcXLyV6DtTwjmEVHJSXffzTJRHLyOqc-WM_fBnCJB_thna1EURhuUz_MHM5daqz3PoaPFrIx-kiBeDz-Q" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624px;" /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The self awareness, relaxation, and heightened sensitivity you experience through your own yoga practice can be shared and reciprocated with your equine partner. This sharing of energy, or prana, is a unique gift horses generously give to us. There are numerous testimonials and videos of this wondrous interchange between riders and horses on the internet. I would like to share my personal experience with you and delve deeper into the yogic connection we can all share with our equine friends.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="IMG_1407.JPG" height="468px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/ybPuo8NDbRXGGBNGn2OQyP_8pU5osww8jZ-NlV9Y5QiqDrxoJrd8_jjfQ2_GyRxNYpudSO4uNu1adY-s5iRpabVVBlY1iT0DratIIYJp_UNYN3YWmpfPl3iUy0yWxMEKeA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624px;" /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> As responsible riders we strive to be sensitive to the physical and emotional signals our horses are continuously communicating to us. For example, this morning my daughter was riding our 5 year old gelding , bareback except for the vaulting surcingle and cinch. Half-Pint ( our gelding) near the end of the training session started to swing his head back to his left and right shoulder in an agitated fashion. My daughter, after experiencing this a few times came to a halt and asked if something was pinching or hurting Half-Pint. This was a great example of the rider, being present and aware and, just as importantly sensitive, to the horse’s signals. Half-Pint was not being naughty or obstinate, he was telling his rider he was in pain. Sure enough the cinch was rubbing him raw in two spots.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This was an wonderful demonstration of the rider expanding her own awareness to encompass her horse and interpret correctly the non-verbal cues her mount was giving to her. My daughter’s mind and spirit was focussed solely on Half-Pint and she was able to divine very quickly what Half-Pint was signaling. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A yoga practice helps us to quiet our minds so that we can better practice one-pointed focus and concentration. As we learn to silence the chaos in our minds we are able to better ground ourselves emotionally and this translates to better communication with our horse. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="IMG_1410.JPG" height="468px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Xm3w6e3t6a3B7Qpx6jdBhu9oXJrD_gbleJBdmpwl2df4oUjptDjEnBmIzf6sQ3Evxf3IUseNE7u21yojzbS189Dv2iCj18MwBDI6urf9TSLtaWIZTp9Gz-rRCUuxlzIrOQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624px;" /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Horses respond like to like; that is when we are calm, they are calm, conversely when we are nervous they are nervous. Further, when we have quieted the chaos of our thoughts and emotions we can better access our intuitive senses and reach out to our horses.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="IMG_1405.JPG" height="832px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/XkNBI1bwA2FuC257h5bAsSbKCw3hpfp2TP-RNEh-RpzxeLSeW1rJmi4rDYt06vpSfj5ZQCtqG1mSgbAjFLBtTBkpB0RsrXWmVTmr_L83UKIm2je_SDqrWQAc27smkiQpSg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624px;" /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, take your yoga practice from the mat to the arena and have fun with your horse.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="IMG_1412.JPG" height="468px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/wOpQXzapwvK4xw2XFqD_tjUrIuUUcVLVPwaaLwE5Psgf1PAdjLqWH56gyGFQGrCVajO_ekgMl9o_cYoKv0Zh1KeusI6jsteVkHOc8M9ernFKHV0M-94h1TCU6M_cYcd9bw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624px;" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="IMG_1408.JPG" height="468px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/K1OZYV4YrU-P82TKIXnnxQOxp9UbLoKsRPbtbBNZnAuNVwkz8-ZWPsjujLUk70XUXKMgioAgRczYdgECZX-PXobdhJsIV9qXdb9l6mP3J-FS4DpTfH2cJ4bBVmRb5NwmXA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624px;" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="IMG_1404.JPG" height="468px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/AFZ8o45T2nZ2ittR111UYoaawv3gfjgr_U4dz_z0uZMTzBQViHFk3vbFsMdUOdaR9NvdaFNqw2Mer0RrRFTUpNoG70i_vjliB79mkFDioe0VpzZdGof-1OHBsOr_CdqnNw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624px;" /></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12147364860495707629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794849674372390046.post-50712646261411595792015-01-29T11:46:00.004-08:002015-01-29T11:46:30.118-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 32px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yoga in Harmony retreats</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 32px; line-height: 1.5900000333786; white-space: pre-wrap;">OUR MISSION</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5900000333786002; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*to offer all who seek a place and a path to find the quiet beauty of their soul and share this realization with others.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*to inspire people to rediscover the passion for life</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5900000333786002; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">* to learn acceptance of the self.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5900000333786002; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yoga offers the path and the final destination by showing us how to “still the mind” and horses help show us the way. They teach, give, and bring freedom and by learning how to interact with the horse, in an open & honest way, we acquire the tools to manage our own lives with honesty, staying true to who we are. We lose the facade and become the real person, the one the horse sees and knows.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5900000333786002; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our facilitators in yoga, healing energies, meditation, herbal and essential oils, are all known in their fields and live in Costa Rica. They draw upon the healing energies found on the Caribbean coast of Costa RIca and in harmony with the wisdom and traditions of the Bribri indigenous tribes.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5900000333786002; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In our Therapy Retreats, we choose our workshops and activities to offer guidance. Each encounter should bring a new insight into ourselves, and guide us to live our lives with more ease. Our relationships with others will take on new meanings as well, allowing us to be more in touch with our true feelings.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5900000333786002; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a natural, peaceful setting, we combine these workshops with the relaxation practices of yoga, meditation and massage. What we offer is not only a retreat holiday, but an experience to carry forward into your daily life armed with the tools, knowledge, experience, and calm mind to enrich your life.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5900000333786002; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">**Our retreats offer re-connection, healing, shifting consciousness and raising personal and universal vibration.Our mission is to bring peace, harmony & balance to the body, mind and soul.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5900000333786002; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">**Our mission to horses, to animals, to nature, Mother Earth and all living Beings is to bring love, respect & connection.</span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-1ae52572-373a-29d5-faed-d97497d6ea51"><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">**In our community we work at bringing awareness of how to care for and respect the animals we have and the nature around us.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12147364860495707629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794849674372390046.post-14560162037445878982014-03-17T05:51:00.001-07:002014-03-17T05:51:48.220-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Yoga in Harmony with Horses</div>
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day one afternoon</div>
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As part of the week long retreat we include an afternoon of snorkelling in the clear warm waters of the Caribbean. We had the most amazing experience yesterday snorkelling just off the point of Cahuita. We were literally in the middle of hundreds of fish as we and they drifted above a large coral shelf. We saw little fish, big fish, striped fish, polka dotted fish, sea cucumbers, and even a manta ray!! It was like being in a National Geographic show. </div>
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Our wonderfully friendly and skilled guide then took us to a secluded beach where we had fresh pineapple to take the salt taste from our mouth. </div>
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All in all a wonderful experience.</div>
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For more information and pictures see Kindredspiritscr. com or my web page, <a href="http://yogawithcorinnerosita.com/">http://yogawithcorinnerosita.com</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12147364860495707629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794849674372390046.post-31239338171993955522014-03-16T11:23:00.001-07:002014-03-16T11:23:08.588-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><strong>Yoga in Harmony with Horses, daily journal</strong></span></div>
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<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">First day of our retreat Yoga in harmony with horses; we are blessed to have Linda with us on our yoga journey with horses. We had a wonderful opening ceremony in the yoga shala followed by a magical session with the horses in their pasture. We sat quietly in different corners of the pasture, sharing the horses's space and energy. The horses shared their love with us by coming close to us as th<span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show">ey grazed. <br /> On a personal note I have had 2 days of RA pain in my arm and Anya, the mare, came to me, shared her healing energy with me, and I feel much better. What a beautiful gift I was given today.<br /><br /> Now we are off to do some snorkelling and then a nice PM yoga session to help us reflect on all our blessings,<br /> Namaste, Corinne</span></span></div>
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<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="text_exposed_show">Thank you to Terry of Magellan Inn, Cahuita and Kindredspiritscr.com for their wonderful horses.</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12147364860495707629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794849674372390046.post-20626157487802625392014-02-20T12:12:00.000-08:002014-02-20T12:12:02.842-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobS7awIzwF4HpJHQ5W6BwWuqi0srXmKFF0m_PAA_0HjWWS25bqh_84yjANfkgaElNoukH90W6VbWySYS88BeZVKsF1yj7zkjKdWtexIui999dSfD90YV43kR_VMUtYzYLwNTeAe8iO5w/s1600/IMG_1636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobS7awIzwF4HpJHQ5W6BwWuqi0srXmKFF0m_PAA_0HjWWS25bqh_84yjANfkgaElNoukH90W6VbWySYS88BeZVKsF1yj7zkjKdWtexIui999dSfD90YV43kR_VMUtYzYLwNTeAe8iO5w/s1600/IMG_1636.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Preparing for Padangusthasana with Half-Pint.</div>
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Half-Pint making me laugh with his throaty half neighing to our mare, Centella, in the field next door. He wants to play with her.</div>
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Ok, Half-Pint has accepted he will stay with me a little longer before going to the paddock to play.</div>
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Hmmmm, why is she leaning on me with one leg?</div>
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Humans are strange, but, okay.</div>
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She's happy so I'm happy and relaxed.</div>
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The pose, Padangusthasana, translated as Big Toe Pose, is a fun pose to share with your horse. First, make sure you have established a connection with your horse and that he is relaxed and receptive to your voice and movements. </div>
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Calmly and slowly lift your leg and foot into position. It is at this point that your horse may decide to move away from you so it is important that you listen carefully to your horse's moods and signals. When your horse is at ease he will hold his whole body loosely, face and ears will appear relaxed, sometimes the eyes are closed, and he may lick his lips or lower his neck and head.</div>
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Horses are trained to move away from pressure so when your body weight is pressing on his side and back his first tendency will be to move away leaving you in an increasingly wider and wider straddle! To counteract this reaction use your voice and your facial expressions to signal your calmness and peaceful intentions towards your horse. Once you are in position stay very still and give your horse time to get used to the pressure on this back and to your position. As he becomes more relaxed and learns through experience that you are not asking any more from him except to stand still and accept your weight, he will remain still and calm for longer periods.</div>
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The benefits of this pose for humans are many.</div>
<ol>
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helps to reduce diabetes</div>
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improves head to toe flexibility</div>
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improves powers of concentration</div>
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helps relieve anxiety</div>
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improves respiration</div>
</li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
calms the nervous system</div>
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The benefits of this pose to your horse are many.</div>
<ol>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
learns to stand still and relaxed</div>
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learns to accept your weight</div>
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when you place your foot near the shoulders and withers you are connecting with his heart chakra</div>
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when you place your foot nearer his hips you are connecting with the lower chakras that govern his identity and self-confidence.</div>
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Poses to help prepare you and your horse for Padangusthasana are Warrior I and II while standing to the side of your horse and placing one hand on his withers, back or hip.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12147364860495707629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794849674372390046.post-36861454137132333012014-02-19T12:13:00.002-08:002014-02-19T12:13:40.426-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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photo by Corinne Rosita Aulakh: Faro Escondiida, courtesy of B.N.<br />
<br />
Beyond Limits<br />
by Shemu'ab Tovah<br />
<br />
The human body is always finite;<br />
It is the spirit that is boundless.<br />
Before he begins to pray,<br />
A person should cast aside that which limits him<br />
And enter the endless world of Nothing.<br />
In prayer he should turn to God alone<br />
And have no thoughts of himself at all.<br />
Nothing but Go exists for him;<br />
He himself has ceased to be.<br />
The true redemption of man's soul can only happen<br />
As he steps outside the body's limits.<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12147364860495707629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794849674372390046.post-16137060905051696972014-02-12T14:32:00.000-08:002014-02-12T14:32:59.674-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong>Do you want to offer bi-lingual, Spanish-English, Yoga classes?</strong> </div>
<br />
I live in Costa Rica. My mother tongue is English. Since moving to Costa Rica I have learned Spanish and although it is not perfect I love the everyday challenges of communicating in a second language. Drawing from personal experience I want to share with you some of my strategies for teaching a class in more than one language.<br />
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First, find a yoga text in Spanish so you have a good reference book to help you with names of poses and cues to give while demonstrating those poses. Use search engines and Youtube to hear and learn Spanish phrases and cues used in a yoga class.<br />
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For this blog I relied heavily on the Spanish text found in Los Secretos del Yoga by Jennnie Bittleston and my own personal experience teaching yoga in Spanish and English.<br />
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<strong>Teaching strategies for a dual language yoga class</strong></div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
If possible try to arrange to have similar levels of yoga experience among your students. This greatly facilitates communication in both languages. Be prepared to physically demonstrate poses and or ask students to demonstrate poses for the class.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
Be consistent in the timing and the language used when transitioning to each pose. For example, if you use English first to cue a transition, and then repeat the cue in Spanish, continue to use English first. Most people will appreciate having this predictability.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
If you are still learning Spanish, or any other second language, practice on your own, before class, and out loud, so you feel more comfortable saying and hearing the sounds. Practice enunciating your words and yoga cues. Speak slowly to insure that your students understand you. </div>
</li>
</ol>
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<strong>Helpful yoga cues and phrases in Spanish</strong></div>
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<strong>Names of postures</strong></div>
<ol>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
adhho mukha svanasana: Perro boca abajo</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
ardha chandrasana: Media luna</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
baddha konasana: El zapater</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
chaturanga: El baston con apoyo</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
dandasana: El baston</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
dhanurasana: El arco</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
garudasana: Entrelazar los brazos</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
gomukhasana: Agarre de manos</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
halasana: El arado</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
janu sirasana: Cabeza contra rodilla</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
Marishyasana: El sabio</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
parivritta trikonasana: Triangulo invertido</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
parsvottanasana: Estiramiento lateral</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
prasarita padottanasana: El gran angulo</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
salabhasana: La langosta</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
sarvangasana: La vela</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
savasana: El cadaver</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
sukhasana: Postura facil</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
supta baddha konasana: El arado con piernas abiertas</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
supta padangusthasana: Estiramiento de piernas en suelo</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
supta tadasana: La Montana tumbada</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
supta virasana: El heroe en el suelo</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
tadasana: La Montana de pie</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
ustrasana: El camello</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
utkatasana: La silla</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
uttanasana: Flexion hacia delante sentada</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
utthita hasta padangusthasana: Estiramientos de piernas</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
utthita parsvakonasana: Angulo lateral extendido</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
utthita trikonasana: El triangulo</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
virabhadrasana: El guerrero</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
virasana: El heroe</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
vrksana: El arbol</div>
</li>
</ol>
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Here is a list of some useful verbs when giving cues to enter, hold and leave poses.</div>
<ol>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
to extend: extendirse</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
to get up: levantarse</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
to lower: bajarse</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
to lie down: acostarse, tumbarse</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
to lie down, face up: boca arriba</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
to lie down, face down: boca abajo</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
to align: alinearse</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
to stretch: flexionarse,estirarse</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
to breath: respirarse</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
to adjust: ajustarse</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
to transfer: transferir</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
to maintain: mantener</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
to hold: sostener</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
to place: colocarse</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
to stabilize: establarse</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
to sit: sentarse</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
to hold onto or grab: agarrar</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
to bend: doblarse</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
to hold ( a pose): aguantarse</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
to focus: concentrarse</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
to turn: girar</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
to separate: separarse</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
to support: apoyarse</div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Some adjectives and adverbs you may find useful:</div>
<ol>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
straight: recta, </div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
bent: doblado</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
deeply ( breath): profundo</div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Some phrases you may find useful:</div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
forward: adelante: hacia delante: hacia el frente</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
backwards: detras: hacia detras</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
towards: hacia</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
inside: adentro: hacia dentro</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
outside: afuera: hacia afuera</div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This is just a sample of words and phrases you will need to teach a class in Spanish. It is also very helpful to learn the parts of the body in Spanish. Counting in Spanish is very useful too.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
There is a lot of learning and practicing to do if you want to lead a successful yoga class in Spanish. With preparation and practice it can be done. Teaching a yoga class in a second language allows you to share your practice with more people and it helps you to refine your teaching skills as well. </div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It also give you a wonderfully interesting opportunity to learn more about a second culture. So, go for it. You will find that your students will be very patient with you and appreciative of your efforts. Yoga is for everyone; don't let language stand in your way of sharing your passion with others.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12147364860495707629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794849674372390046.post-68974367440940182752014-02-10T05:10:00.001-08:002014-02-10T05:10:17.276-08:00Life is Good<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It doesn't get much better than this.<br />
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Yoga means union.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12147364860495707629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794849674372390046.post-38791064344634782602014-02-08T05:42:00.002-08:002014-02-08T05:42:55.089-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong><em></em></strong> </div>
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<strong><em></em></strong> </div>
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<strong><em>When I identify myself with the body, O Lord, I am Thy creature, eternally separate from Thee. When I identify myself with the soul I am a spark of that Divine Fire which Thou art. But when I identify myself with the Atman, I and Thou art one.</em></strong></div>
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by Hanuman to Shri Rama</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12147364860495707629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794849674372390046.post-48152986526618988952014-02-06T21:03:00.001-08:002014-02-07T04:31:25.118-08:00What's in your Yoga ibrary?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My personal reference yoga library.</div>
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I thought I would share with you some of the reference books and other resources I regularly read and consult. I will list them in the order I acquired them as that in itself tells the story of my yoga journey. I would love to hear from you what books or other yoga references have influenced your yoga story.<br />
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<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Autobiography of a Yogi</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
You Can Heal your Life by Louise L. Hay</div>
</li>
<li>Yoga and the Path of the Urban Mystic by Darren Main</li>
<li>Miracles Through Pranic healing by Master Choa Kok Sui</li>
<li>many many back issues of Yoga international and Yoga Journal generously given to me by a fellow yogini here in Costa Rica, Janine Farrad</li>
<li>Thirumoolar's Ashtanga Yoga by Dr. Asana Andiappan</li>
<li>The Art and Science of Raja Yoga by Swami Kriyananda</li>
<li>Yoga Anatomy by Kamnoff</li>
<li>Yoga for Kids by Liz Lark</li>
<li>Yoga for Real Women by Megan Garia</li>
<li>The yoga sutras of Patanjali, translation and commentary by Sri Swami Satchidananda</li>
<li>Cool Yoga Tricks by Miriam Ausin</li>
<li>Stretch Exercises for your Horse by Karin Blignault</li>
<li>Getting in TTouch; Understand and Influence your Horse's Personality by Linda Tellington-Jones</li>
<li>Chair Yoga by Edeltraud Rohnfeld</li>
<li>Tantric Yoga and the Wisdom Goddesses: Spiritual Secrets of Aurveda, by Frawley</li>
<li>The Jewel in the Lotus, edited by Raghavan Iyer ( thanks to the best sister-in-law in the world, Sally for sharing her copy with me first)</li>
<li>Light on Yoga and Light on Pranayama by BKS Iyengar</li>
<li>Asana Pranayama Mudra bandha by Swami Satyananda Saraswati</li>
<li>Therapeutic Yoga by Dr. J.T. Shah</li>
<li>Yogajournal.com</li>
<li>Yoga yak.com</li>
<li>my yogini daughter, Kiran and my eldest daughter Harpal for her wisdom, and my son Devindar for his inspiring music: all my children have taught me lasting life lessons that I deeply value.</li>
</ol>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12147364860495707629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794849674372390046.post-61794518615204979772014-02-06T04:25:00.000-08:002014-02-06T04:25:10.601-08:00Tadasana, simple and elegant<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Five reasons to perfect your Samasthithi, or Tadasana</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-4a72cf45-0719-f5d7-0d7a-f5ec52e62e7e" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This posture facilitates:</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. total body alignment</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. a more open chest , facilitating deeper breathing</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. strengthening of total body ; muscular and skeletal systems, eyes, nervous system</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. strengthening of muscles in the feet</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. greater focus and concentration in all standing poses</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The posture is deceivingly simple; just stand perfectly upright and in alignment from head to toe. Easy to describe, not so easy to do. I suggest you start by standing against a wall with your feet just a few inches away from the wall. Let your buttucks be your guide. Let them lightly touch the wall and feel your shoulders just making contact with the wall. This is your starting point.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, with the big bones just below your big toes touching, heels slightly apart, tuck the pelvis in using your lower abdominal muscles, try to lift your sternum ( do this to open the chest cavity), and let your chin be parallel to the floor, and let your eyes softly gaze on something directly in front of you. Arms hang by your sides, palms open and facing your thighs. Spread your fingers softly.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17.25px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Try to visualize feeling grounded through your feet into Mother Earth. Relax the toes, lift the arches</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17.25px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ( do this by subtly </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17.25px; white-space: pre-wrap;">rolling your ankles in towards one another), feel the balance of your body standing over the middle of your feet, keeping light contact between the balls of your feet, your heels and the inner and outer soles of the feet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17.25px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17.25px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let your focus travel up your body from your feet and ankles. Soften the knees and tuck the pelvis. These two actions in conjunction with lifting the arches of your feet provide the alignment of your lower body. Now gently engage the mooladara and uddiana bandhas and then lift the sternum and chest. At this point you may have to adjust your pelvis and tuck it in again. Inhale and roll your shoulders up towards your ears and then drop them behind your ears and back, shoulders blades coming towards one another. There, almost finished getting into the pose.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17.25px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17.25px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Remember, how you get into and out of the pose is just as important as holding the pose. So, take your time, slow the breath, and calm the thoughts as you do this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17.25px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17.25px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bring your attention to your neck and head. The chin is held parallel to the floor, the eyes look in front of you and rest gently on a focal point, or dristhi. Smooth out any tension held in your forehead or in your jaw. Consciously relax the lips and mouth and even the tongue. Visualize relaxing your hairline and the back of your head. Let the ears relax into place.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17.25px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17.25px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Take a few deep cleansing breaths, adjust your posture again. Bring your focus to your ajna chakra.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17.25px; white-space: pre-wrap;">You are in Tadasana or Samasthithi. Enjoy the pose and breath.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breath and enjoy the beautiful sensations of your energy pulsing through your body. Enjoy the peace and calmness. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12147364860495707629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794849674372390046.post-5487967571960699692014-02-05T09:50:00.000-08:002014-02-05T09:50:26.177-08:00Don't know what yoga is but you want to do it anyway<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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What is yoga? Why do people do it? and was exactly is "it" that they are doing? </div>
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Yoga has many faces. People are practicing it all over the world. For some it is a deeply spiritual practice, for others a physical workout. The common denominator is that the practice of Yoga is an individual pursuit.<br />
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Yoga relies on experience, your personal experience. The more time you devote to your practice the more you experience the changes in body, mind, and soul. Even if you are not looking for those changes they happen. That is the wonder of a yoga practice.<br />
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If you approach yoga from a physical perspective; looking for improved flexibility and strength, you will absolutely experience these changes in your body. What you may not be looking for, but will experience, is a positive change in your energy level and your mood. These transformations occur hand in hand with the transformations your body will experience.<br />
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The same is true if you come to Yoga with the goal of deepening your spiritual practice. Following the tenets of Yoga you will definitely experience a deeper connection with your choice of Divinity and definitely will experience more joy and peace in your life. On this path you will also strengthen your body and realize greater range of motion and better physical health.<br />
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Without an exception all Yoga masters tell their students, "practice, practice, practice." The Sutras of Patanjali expound on this theme also. Why is this a central part of a yoga practice? This is so because Yoga is an experience, your experience. Another way to put it is; yoga is your story and you are writing it, you are in charge. <br />
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As the author of your story you may take guidance from your yoga teacher, from the writings of other Yoga masters, but ultimately you are responsible for yourself.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12147364860495707629noreply@blogger.com1