Don't save it all....

...for Christmas Day. You know the song.
Today, because its if holiday season, the post will be slightly different. As compassion and ahimsa is a vital part of yoga philosophy, I thought it will be more than appropriate, with the holiday season coming up, to turn your eyes into some of the good stuff you all can do. May I emphasize that, not only during Christmas season, when it is easy to get caught in doing nice, but maybe there is a way to incorporate those things in your daily schedule, or at least weekly schedule.
It's not a secret for anyone that knows me at least just a little, that I'm a crazy cat lady. Crazy animal lady. I would love to feed all the animals, take home every cat, and if I see the troubled creature, I always do. That's why the number of cats in my house it that, not the other. Almost all the cats I have are rescued street cats. Whenever I can, I feed whatever I can see is homeless.
I think holiday season is a good time to start to help our little brothers and sisters. Try and not leave it just for the holidays - maybe you can go there at least 1 a week?
So plan is - find a place near your house or neighborhood where you know stray animals live. It can be a cellar, a little cat house build by neighbors, anything. In Warsaw, there are plenty of places like that. If you based here, you can even contact me for directory :) there is a place I go every other day to bring some food for the little fellas. There is around 10 cats living there, and the people living close by are very thoughtful.
They always make the place warm for the winter with hay and straw and wrap the blankets around the wire that protects cats from wind and intruders.
They also leave food and water, but they can always use a little help.
Today I went there to give them some special Christmas Eve dinner. There was a dry food mixed with treats that my cats donated and some wet food with vegetables.
Here are some pictures I took.

What are the other ways to help? 

If you don't see that there is a stray animal "shelter" in the neighborhood, you can always help out the birds (or do both). During winter season they have difficulties finding food. Maybe you have some dry bread that you won't eat (just check carefully if there is no mold!). If the temperature is over 1 degree Celsius you can soak the bread in water first, so that they get the water and food at the same time). Be careful to not throw the soaked bread at the evening, cause when the temperature at night goes down, the bread freezes and it's impossible to eat. 

You can also donate money and food or other necessities to the animal shelter or hospice. There is a lovely hospice with very dedicated people that I always donate whatever I can too. Here is the website. Hospicjum dla Kotów Bezdomnych

Ok guys, hope you feel inspired to do something nice for the animals this holiday season and all the year around. They will be really grateful as often, they cannot help themselves or ask anybody for help. 

Have a peaceful, lovely holiday, full of joy, sharing and compassion.

Season greetings from my fat cats:)

Nellie

Rumcia

Koper

Henryczek 

Joanna  :)

Energy

Hello everyone!
Today's post will be about energy and yoga, because that's what came into my focus during the last week of practicing, and found it's crescendo moment today.
I do recon that my last post was about humor and yoga, but may I kindly ask you to not laugh at me though this post ? :)
First of all, it's probably not a secret for people that regularly practice Ashtanga yoga, that it creates and awakes amounts of energy that make the day look easier and the tasks more approachable. When I began to practice about month and a half ago, I almost immediately felt more awake and ready to go. When I started to go to morning Mysore classes, if felt even better. When I didn't practice yoga, I felt sleepy and unrested during the day, even though I would sleep in and have an easy morning. I would have difficulties to get through the classes that I taught, and have to beware to not fall asleep on the bus.
When I started practicing in Mysore style, things changed dramatically.
Not only I rise very early, and I have energy to do so, I also have an energy to get through the day, do what I have to and what I want to do AND rise early the next morning. I feel more bubbly, more active, more creative and  more eager to laugh. It results in less percentage of children and adults being bored in my class, because I always feel ready to modify on the spot, depending on a day. I also have an energy to make more effort to actually interest people in things. Also, in yoga. Yes, I talk, walk and sleep yoga. I'm even a little hyper, even a little more excited. But it's change that I really appreciate based in my busy busy lifestyle.
Couple of days ago, I watched this cool video about Sirsasana. Yes, Kino again. If I want to know more, I watch Kino, she somehow always gives out this little pieces of information that prove to be very useful.
Watch it!
Kino - Headstand

As you see, she also talks about how this posture helps to move  spiritual energy towards the head if held for a long time. It's also known to be one of healing postures.
So yesterday I though instead of 3 short headstands, why don't I go ahead and try to hold one for about 15 breaths.
Today I held it for 20 and it felt so good. I finally didn't feel to much pressure on the head, so I thought, why not. Let's try.
Then I went to pranayama class. I don't know if this headstand has magically awoke me spiritually after 20 breaths ( and I tell you not to laugh :) but this is what happened in the class . Read on.
(Disclaimer. Before you read. You have to know. I don't do drugs! )
Today during Pranayama I had quite a trip. I was usually very skeptical when somebody claims to see an energy in colors or shapes, or sees the aura, etc.  I also have to mention that my knowledge of bandhas is quite limited still, and my knowledge of chakras is practically non existent. But actually being able to find out more about it is very interesting, even though there are times when my awareness is off and I'm not exactly sure what am I tapping into. Anyhow, today's pranayama was quite an experience. It's hard to believe in many things, until you experience it by yourself.
Today's class was a little different. After a couple of exercises that we usually begin with we did something what I like to call zip lock exercise. You basically close your eyes and you breath deeply, visualizing top of your head when inhaling and the navel when exhaling. After couple of deep breaths in that, the weirdest thing happen . There was this image before my very eyes, and it wasn't like I imagined it, or visualized it. It was as real as I see now my iPad and the keyboard.
The image was very clear, it looked like a person, completely made of light, with no distinction of face or limbs, just light. The person was sitting in either crossed legs position or lotus and was definitely having hands connected in prayer (I could tell by the elbows that were lifted). Sometimes the head was in a circle of yellowish - whiteish light and sometimes not. At some point, I started to  move my feet to see if the image would disrupt or dissolve, but it didn't. So I smiled, and it still stayed where it was. It looked something like that:

Obviously came home and draw all the crazy images promptly).

Then, the same exercise made me see (really see, not imagine) yellow and white rings of what I though  was energy. They were coming from the outside, and concentrating to the inside, what i thought was my body. At the end of concentrating they became a little irregular shape, and finally dissolved into the black - grayish background. As soon as one ring did, the other one came from the outside and the process started again.

This are my poor drawings of this:

So later, we were breathing through all the chakras, and here the same thing continued. I mosty saw the energy rings, or the "Buddha person" from time to time. Depending on what chakra we were on, the rings appeared in different intensity of yellow, white, grey, sometimes a little red, sometimes the background would turn green. What's funny, the colors would usually go as they pleased, not always the way that teacher said what the color should be. On some chakras, the rings would not appear at all.  There was also the moment when the picture would turn completely white, and I remembered that it was the Chakra of solar plexus. 

Also, something funny happened on the heart Chakra. There was some sort of modification of the energy ring experience.

The ring would appear on one corner, transfer to the other, go look like a moving wave, flip around very quickly and disappeared. 

I was so amazed the entire time, that I smiled through entire chakra exercise. Needles to say, I found it hard to believe what I'm seeing.

I also found it hard to believe that the class was up so soon. I thought I would love to stay for another hour and watch my energy rings, waves and Buddhas like a good movie. 

Well, anyway, are you scared of me now? ;)

Anybody seen something like that? 

Enjoy your practice!

Joanna

Humor and yoga

"If you don't laugh, you will end up crying", Brad Ramsey stated in "Guruji", underlining the importance of dat tiny bit of humor in practice. For me, as a person with tendency to go into extremes, it speaks a lot. Today I want to examine the importance of keeping a tiny humorous approach, especially when attempting a new asana, or the one you have problems with.
Most of times, at least for me, yoga is about finding that calm, non - judgmental state, towards yourself and the practice, and if you are a teacher, also your students. It also transforms towards the daily life. I give an example. I'm ,with quite a consistence falling down from utthita hasta padangusthasana, especially when legs goes to the side, and I have to look the other way. Yesterday, I watched Kino MacGregor explaining this posture in the video! and while hip - into - the - socket advice helped, the calm mind advice helped even more. ( I am linking the video here so you can watch it).

I knew from the beginning that it is my mind blocking me from standing, and it's my mind that makes my ankles nervous and wobbly. Putting  my need to complete the asana away, creates a space for my
mind to relax, with keeping certain level of alertness, and results in less nervousness in the posture and stability.
I read an article lately, that had been also underlining the  keeping the calm mind at all times. While I think it is useful most of times, and allows us to let go of the expectations and enjoy the fact of the practicing itself.
But there is also another power, that can be helpful sometimes, and it is power of humor and being able to laugh at oneself. ( do not confuse with picking on yourself :)
Last week I found myself approaching couple of new and challenging asanas in Primary Series.
Bujapidasana, that is the first arm balance with your legs crossed in front. Couple of day passed before I could balance for 5 full breaths, and then the teacher added going down with your chin, and back with the feet. And here the battle began. :)
I hit myself many times, in many places. Forehead, chin, mouth, nose, and first and foremost, butt. I enjoy the trying process though :)
The Kurmasana and Supta Kurmasana - how many times did I fall down when I was trying to sit down? The most interesting part of Supta Kurmasana is how to get out of it. Now I can really sympathize with da tortoise. Appreciate the tortoise! He walks around like that!
My latest addition is the rolling before Gharba Pidasana. Basically you put your legs in lotus, take the arms around, grasp the hands, stay for 5 breaths and then try to roll around, and come back to where you came from (with arms still clasped).
The best part of it, is when you fall down on your side, with the lotus and your arms around. Its like, what do i do now. Do i undo all my limbs or do I try to roll on the back without undoing, only helped by the core. There is this moment of lying down on the side when you feel like an Chinese infant wrapped tightly in your blanket praying your way out to your Uddiyana Bandha to come and get cha.
If I wouldn't be using my humor in approaching this asanas, I would be probably beating myself up for not being able to do that, and my inner critic would kill me. That's not the point right? Of ashtanga yoga, right?
Anyway, if you cannot, for the moment keep your mind calm, because it's going bananas, you should better refrain to your inner comic. My inner comic never sleeps, because it's a perfect aid and counterbalance to too much self criticism or self pity. I think ideally, you would be just super calm all the time. If you can't do that, then better start laughing. Wouldn't the life be boring without a little humor? I find it essential to get through the day. If that's a vital part of my life, I feel I need to embrace it and include it in my practice. You don't want to take it to the extreme, and laugh instead of breathing, but if there is a spectacular fall in Bujapidasana that your inner comic has to embrace with smile, go ahead and smile. It's better than being angry at yourself. For what? We all are just trying here.

All righty guys. Stay inspired, keep practicing!
Joanna

Dimensions of Ahimsa

  
Today I want to address some of the fundamentals of the yogic lifestyle that actually connect to each other.
The main topic will be ahimsa, which is a Sanskrit word for "nonviolence".
You can hear Kino MacGregor really nice talk about Ahimsa here:

For me, personally, Ahimsa has three basic dimensions, or that's at least how I see it. It might be ideologically not correct, but this is what I discovered so far.  I listed them from the easiest to hardest one (for me).
First dimension of Ahimsa, which is the one that seems the easiest for me, is non violence to animals. I've been always an animal 
lover, with many, many animals in my household. My record was seven cats, a rabbit and two guinea pigs. Not hurting the animals was always something obvious since I was a little kid. My entire family adored animals, so I could say I " inherited" this animal loving thingy and always included animals as members of my family.
Yet the concept of Ahimsa made me re-examine and look again at my feeling towards animals and I turned out to be animal lover hypocrite. 
And here goes my diet. Would I slaughter a cat? A dog? A fish? A cow? A pig? Any living creature? No. Never. I would much rather die from hunger, than to live knowing that I hurt a living being. Would I be ok with going into the slaughter house and watch without blink how animals are killed? I don't think I would be ever able to do that. 
So then, why do I allow other people to do the dirty work for me? 
Why do I, by buying meat with my money, feed the entire machine of animal slaughter? One would say - animals will be killed anyway. There are thousands of people who feed the business every day and will not eliminate meat from their diet. I don't think that going with the crowd is a solution here, just because "nothing will change anyway". I think that the changes start within ourself, and if you can, inspire others to do so. It's valuable to have your own point of view, be true to oneself and go with it. If everybody would be following the crowd, nothing would ever change. If I can make make the animal slaughter industry income 0.0000000000000000000001% lower,  then I will do so! Add on those little percentages of the people that choose to not rat meat and the true change starts to look more material. 
I've been always struggling back and forth with eating meat - part of me wanted to do just to animals and stay true to myself, and my love to animals, and another part just said "oh that won't change anything" and went with the mainstream. 
There is another change that happens when you consciously decide to exclude meat from your diet. It's a change within your self, it's a feeling of integrity with your true beliefs, your actions, and the "outside word". On that note, concept of ahimsa led me towards connecting with what I feel is right and putting it into action. 
I think it's important to make people aware about this and listen to your inner voice telling you what is right for you and the "outside words" 

The second dimension of Ahimsa, for me is non violence towards other people. 
For me, when I first started to unroll the concept of ahimsa the first question that poped out was the question about the definition of violence. What is the meaning of ahimsa towards other people? 
For me it is acting the way that won't hurt the others and won't cause an intentional suffering. It also goes beyond intentional and ask to re-examine the possible unintentional effect of our actions. It can be words, action, but also thoughts. 
Its really mora about "scanning" and measuring everything against that idea of non violence. Actually it's very much about making a decision, that I'm not going to get angry, that, I'm not going to talk back in that way. It's not about being idle but about refraining from any verbal or physical violence. While it is quite understandable for most of people that you should not hit another person, verbal assault and violence through words is much more common. Words can hurt more than a physical pain. 
In "Sacred fire" Kino MacGregor writes"(...) when you find yourself in the throws of anger with heat rising up your spine, blood boiling
and eyes narrowing, the normal reaction is to let it spew out from your mouth and body in rising torment that attacks all beings around. (...) I began to see that rather than creating or acting out of my anger I could, instead, act out of love. This state actively gives, creates, heals and inspires".
The third dimension of Ahimsa is the hardest thing ever. It's non violence to your own self. 
We often don't realize how much harm we do to ourselves. It can really be a variety of actions, thoughts, words. It is so hard to control it and realize that little pieces of violence that we do to ourselves every day. Beating yourself up for a mistake, making a decision that will have negative influence on our mind and body, negative thoughts and many many others appear every day. It's a life long process to come to peace with oneself. 
Something that is definitely worth working on.

And, last but not least,for inspiration - Danny Paradise talking about the power of one.
http://youtu.be/EnMo9QKi9-w

Smoothie

Recently, I've been loving to drink healthly things. It feels so right for my body.
What's my favorite thing to drink after yoga practice? I love to drink freshly squeezed juices, especially carrot-apple or just apple. I either do it myself at home, buy in the studio, or buy big containers of Slonecznia Tlocznia juices, they are so good and have no additives. I also love love love coconut water, my favorite is either plain or pinnapple acerola one from Dr Martinis. The good think to drink after practicing is also a smoothie. It's both refreshing and filling (especially if you hadn't ate anything yet :)
Here is a recipe for one of my favorite smoothies. Unfortunately, mangos aren't very good at that time of a year in Poland, but they are definitely eatable.

MANGO BANANA KIWI smoothie

You will need:
1 mango
1 banana
1 kiwi
1 tangerine
1/2 lime
1/2 cup apple or apple - raspberry juice
1 cup of coconut water
2 teaspoons of blackberry syrup

Wash, peal and cut all of the fruit, put it in the blender. Add juice and coconut water and syrup. Blend on low, then high.
Makes about 3 servings :)
Enjoy!
Joanna

The fire that I'm afraid of.

Today, I would like to share with you a story. About fire.
To be precise, about candle light.

About a week ago, I had a weirdest dream.
(No, actually, the weirdest was yesterday, but let's leave it for later ;).
I don't know if it's because I read to many things about "inner fire", samskaras (the habitual negative patterns), and burning them or was it actually my own struggles showing.
The only thing I know, that through the entire dream I was crazy afraid of that fire and that I will get burned, and my yoga mat will get burned.
It was like that: a yoga class, outdoor. Teacher that I hadn't seen before in my "real life". Very many people, mats very close to each other.  The teacher is lighting the candles, very little. Putting them in between the mats. The candles are wobbling in the wind. The ground is uneven and shaking. There is a huge candle, the biggest of all. It is placed very close to my mat and it's terribly wobbling.
Once again, the only thing I'm afraid of is this fire. And burning.

That's ok if anybody thinks I'm crazy. But that was my dream.
Enjoy your Saturday!
J

Something positive

Is there any way that you can squeeze something positive into your life, into your dialy schedue?
Every day, one little thing or activity that makes you smile and makes you feel alive, well balanced and make you feel like you take care of yourself. 
Think of how your life would change if you could do something like that every day for a long time? 
Can you make space for yourself every day?
For me this is yoga. It means all those things for me. It's pretty surprising that my day unfolds differently when I start it with practice.  It's calmer, more balanced and it's easier for me to keep peaceful mind through the day, no matter what happens.
Yesterday, I had to be at work early that's why I couldn't go to Mysore class. I really felt different through the day, I was becoming restless and nervous. 
I went to the evening led class and by the time I was getting to the studio I felt almost sick. 
Not to mention it was really hard for me to get up at 6:25 am to go to work, not to yoga. Because if I get up for yoga, it's much easier. 

I even started to read some yoga books, I just finished "Guruji" and started off with Kino Macgregor's "Sacred Fire".  I've been wanting this book for awhile now, and was unaware that actually the studio I go to sells it on the front desk. I am on third chapter now - it's very inspiring and interesting to read about somebody else's experiences. Actually, many things make sense to me and some remind me of myself. I am too, like she said she was, overenthusiastic beginner who yet does not know much, but wants to share everything ;) Its funny that everybody started somewhere! I recommend this book to anybody keenly interested in Asthtanga yoga. 
Enough for today!
Enjoy your practice,
Joanna

Trouble in asanas

Today I decided to write a post about asanas/vinyasas that give me or were giving me a lot of trouble for various reasons. Enjoy reading ;)
Just a reminder that I'm a complete beginner to ashtanga yoga, and been practicing regularly (6 days in week) since a month or so. I'm obviously dealing with the primary series here :) this post here is not to complain, but to simply show what problem do I have in some of the asanas, and what is here to work on. Maybe somebody can sympathize with it ;)


Chaturanga Dandasana in vinyasa
Although I've been familiar with that asana before and performed it with not much of a trouble, when the class progresses until the end and we do vinyasa over and over again, my arms started to weaken and that is what was happening: 

So many times I hit the ground before my muscles got a little stronger and my 

alightment a little better. I no longer fall in chaturanga. Well... At least not on regular basis ;)

Prasarita padhottanasana C

(Bending over with legs spread apart and hands together behind the back)

This is like, I should write a poem about my troubles in that asana. Especially when my teacher comes to correct me. The problems are: my head doesn't want to release, my weight doesn't want to go forward, I'm afraid of falling over, and my legs go toward the split when they should stay in place. I have problems with locating and holding my inner tights in parallel position. Oh and also did I mention that my feet go on their outside edge? 

I feel like I have a lifelong task with that asana :)

Utthita hasta padangusthasana 

(Standing balance position) 

This is a great asana to practice jumping.

(Just kidding. My inner comic never sleeps ;)I heard a lot of people having trouble with that. It's very hard asana for balance. I found it especially hard when you have to take the leg to the side and look the other way, and the only thing that is in front of you is a white wall. Only worst if someone is wobbling in fort of your "concentrated gaze". I have hard time concentrating in that asana. Maybe it is the part of why I'm wobbling. 

Marichyasana C and D

(Sitting and twisting position)

In C, without teacher , it is sometimes hard for me to reach for my wrist. But it so much depends on a day! One day it is no problem, and on the other one, I am so stiff that it is hard to even reach for fingers. Also keeping the "standing" foot strong is sometimes a challenge. I also tend to forget about keeping the other foot active. 

Marichyasana D continues to be a puzzle for me, I'm pretty much unaware of what's going on there, not to mention that I can't reach for my hands yet. 

Maybe the understanding will come with time ;)

Urdva Danurasana 

(Bridge position)

While I did bridge before and hadn't had any problems with it, it is quite different in ashtanga yoga than in acrobatics (yes, long time ago, I did acro ;)

Your heels have to go outside, you gotta push really hard with your legs and what is still hard to understand for me, straighten your elbows and push with the hands. 

Trying my best, but I guess my elbows are still bent. How about breathing Jin Urdva Danurasana? What about it? ;)

And to go up in inhale! Its so many things to remeber!

Urdva Padmasana

(Shoulderstand with the lotus)

Is an everexisting struggle to not roll over. Also getting to the position from Sarvangasana isn't easy, the lotus position should be probably done without using hands, but while I can't do it yet, I hold my back with one hand, and manipulate my feet with the other, trying very hard to not roll over ;) 

And then in the position, to keep your elbows straight..

.

Sirsasana

(Headstand)

While I do manage to stand, and straighten the legs, I do have troubles with gagging if I am already vertical or not yet. If I am vertical and I think that I'm not, then I go over and fall. ;)

I try to remember about keeping my shoulders down and my elbows and forearms towards each other. And my belly strong! Also it is a challenge to breath in that position, but I try.

 

Utpluthih

Very hard to lift yourself up and keep it there! And breath....

Savasana 

Yes, you heard me right. I have problem with Savasana. Relaxing is one of my main problems , and also the drifting away in thoughts rather then clearing up the mind happens. It's hard to relieve muscles from constant tension and stress.

Vinyasa

The entire vinyasa sequence, the one in between sitting positions, is really challenging for me. I just recently learned how to roll my feet in between "da dogs" (not just one at the time). Obviously the jump back - jump through part is very challenging for me. I just started working by walking a little back and then jumping, and keeping the hands shoulders width apart is one of the worst challengers ever :) 

Also from the chaturanga to upward facing dog, I just have to touch the ground with my upper legs, no matter how much I try to not to. I keep on repeating to myself, everything slowly, one step at the time :)

Well, that was long. It's actually fun to write down all those things. It's quite amazing how some problems in the asanas reflect my problems in "the the real life".

Luckily, yoga is a real life too!

Hope you enjoyed this post with a little bit of humor.

Enjoy your practice, cheerish the journey, and get 1/4 of milimetr better every day :)

Joanna

Pranayama and competition

Pranayama

First thing that I want to look at is Pranayama. For the last couple of weeks I've been taking the special Pranayama class, that the studio offers on Saturdays.
I must say that I find it extremely hard. But it also made me discover many things about my breath and body. More than anything, my breath is super shallow and nervous. The biggest challenge for me is to equalize the time of inhale and exhale. My inhale is very short and tense. I find it very difficult to lengthen the inhale without adding extra tension. Thanks to pranayama,  I discovered many tensed places in my body.  I feel like my awareness had been put somewhere where it should go...
Also, there is one thing I discovered in myself - I started to incorporate ujjayi pranayama into my daily life, quite subconsciously. If something hurst me, or I feel anger accumulating, or I feel unwell, I just start the ujjayi. It really helps. If feels like first time in my life I am really breathing!

Non- competitive nature of ashtanga yoga 

What an awesome change for a dancer!  It feels like a relief that is hard to describe. 

Let's face it, dance is a constant competition. At its own extreme - ballet. Who's gonna get the leg higher. Who's gonna do more turns. And of course, who's gonna get the job. But hey also the conceptual dance.... It's actually constant fight for funding. I got tired of all that. Besides, I'm bad in competing. Unlike Harry Potter, I'm never the chosen one ;)

For me yoga is such a dramatic change in the matter. It isn't about how many asanas can you do, but about the very fact of practice and personal growth as well as spiritual path.  There is a video of Kino MacGregor that refers a little to that, patience and the value of daily practice.

On the LOL side, don't get to minimal ;)

(Is lazy da word?)

Have an awesome week and stay inspired!

Joanna

Like I was born again
Starting a new life
And smile on the face
Like I never lived before
I live now
Everything is easier and harder with the smile on face (don't forget the smile)
Happiness with current things
Present moment
Little change,
Bliss.

Doing myself a favor.

One of the things that puzzled me the most in my practice, is getting up very early to go to Mysore class. Mildly said, I was never a morning person, and now I get up between 5:30 and 6:50 am every morning without much of a problem. So I obviously asked myself why, and what makes me get up? Could yoga practice be so beneficial, than even I can be transformed into early bird on the spot?
The truth is, that by getting up early and heading to practice, I feel that I'm doing myself a big favor. I have this hour and a half to have a conversation with my body and mind. I feel like there is no better thing that I can do for myself. I'm giving myself this opportunity to grow in both physical and spiritual way.
One of the things that fascinates me in ashtanga yoga is that it isn't only physical practice but it also leads toward awaking the mind. I've been always wanting to look deep inside me, but there was never time or room, or I didn't know how to make time or room for that. That's another reason to wake up at 5:30am. To make this time and room.
I've been always magnetized by things that are hard and uneasy to achieve. More than achieving any particular goal, I was fascinated by the path itself. Ashtanga yoga is the path that really draws and keeps my attention. It is complicated and easy at the same time, takes very long time, requires patience and dedication, humility and dealing with one's ego in the regular basis.
These and many other reasons can be good to get up early and go to practice :)
So I encourage you to take your butt of the bed and go to Mysore class!
Joanna

Beginnings and the benefits of Ashtanga yoga

Hi guys, I'm Joanna, and I live in Warsaw, Poland. I started this blog to share my journey of practice of Ashtanga yoga. I hope you enjoy it. Please share your experiences in comments, I would love to hear about your point of view.
I've been always an active person. Throughout my childhood, I was doing multiple sports like horseback riding, ballroom dancing, soccer, tennis, etc. It seems that it was a part of my body and mind hygiene to constantly keep on moving.  While in my late teens I got interested in dance in particular and started taking up ballet and then also contemporary dance. I completed Merce Cunningham Studio International program training in September 2011, and back in Poland, created my own dances and pieces. My main tools of work are improvisation and instant composition.
I had contact with a yoga before, though it was never and intense and committed practice. I did some Hatha yoga, a little bit if Antigravity yoga (the one with a silk hanging out from the celling), then a little of Ashtanga and a tiny little bit of Kundalini. So I did nothing really right actually, and always stayed a little confused about how should yoga work and what can it bring.
When I did Asthanga though, even for a short time, I felt a positive shift in my mood, but the place I took the class, seemed not really a right place for me, without people committed to Ashtanga in its clear form. So my practice didn't continue there.
I heard from my friend about Astanga Yoga Studio, in Warsaw city centre and I decided to give yoga another go. I loved it from the first class. First week I took only led classes, to get the sequence into my head and revise the allighement the basic postures, and then I went to Mysore class, although a little aftraid that i won't remember the sequence but I also loved it.
The studio is very bright and has uncluttered atmosphere, friendliness is in the air and - first and foremost, the teachers, are truly passionate about Ashtanga yoga and are in constant training themselves.
First, I thought ok, I will try. And I loved it. It's been only 3 weeks and I'm going to Mysore every day. I'm not going to stop. Why? Here are some benefis of doing Ashtanga yoga, that I listed. These don't have to be true for everybody, but they are true for me at this very moment.
1) After the practice, I'm much calmer, there is no stress accumulated; my body and mind feels cleansed, all the obstacles move away.
2) I'm smiling though the day....
3) I'm energized and alert throughout the day. I'm not sleepy or lethargic. My senses are open.
4) Some of my nervousness and nervous habits had disappeared  or are becoming more conscious and less bothersome. When I realized that yesterday, I couldn't believe it. And also what's interesting about it, that when there was a moon day and there wasn't any practice, one habit returned, just for that day.
5) I rise early. (This seemed impossible when I looked at the schedule and was like, oh 7am hymmm). I would usually get up around 9am, such a time waste! Now i get up between 5:30 and 7:00 am. I'm also working on having positive associations with the mornings. (Thats one of my personal issues..)
6) I discovered where the tensions are in my body and how it can possibly reflect in my mind and vice versa and started to work through them (although I think it might prove to be a very long process).
7) I became a conscious vegetarian, out of a need that came deep from the inside (at least that's what I thought it was). I am still having a fish once a week so I'm probably not a full vegetarian yet, but moving there. Also I hadn't had a particular need for sweets in a last couple of weeks. As it is with meat, I just didn't feel like eating it, but it was also caused by awareness of ahimsa (non violece).

Its all pretty big for 3 weeks and I'm sure there is more. I'm completely hooked on ashtanga yoga right now! I will keep you updated on how does it go.
I also want to mention that I sometimes wondered why hadn't I loved yoga before? It was probably a right time for me, right place and right people. I'm grateful that light of yoga is brightening my path, right now at this very moment :)
Some cool links:
 Are you in Warsaw and considering taking up yoga? Here is a cool school with dedicated teachers
Astanga Yoga Studio
For videos, articles, and wise yoga talk and inspiration visit Kino MacGregor page KinoYoga


Enjoy and comment your own experiences!
Joanna