Yoga Marathon Weekend

This weekend was Hilltop Yoga's annual open house. Three beautiful days of free yoga classes. I took full advantage of this time to deepen my practice. Knowledge. My only intention knowledge. I wanted to listen, breathe, accept and learn.

12 hours of yoga over 3 days. I know students who practiced for more hours. My intent wasn't just to crank it out. My intent was to focus and deepen into my practice. I feel recalibrated...calm, and super stretched out!

I took my first ever Advanced Yoga class where I tried nakrasana, svarga dvidasana and a whole bunch of arm balances I don't know the Sanskrit for because I have never attempted them before! It was a class full of laughter, joy and fun.

I took my first ever yoga and meditation class. Sitting still is hard. Slow stretchy flows and deepening into your muscles, joints and bones is not easy.

I took my first ever inversions class. Yep. Inversions. Upside down spaces. Adho mukha svanasana, downward facing dog, is an upside down space. So too are headstands and hand stands.

For me, yoga classes are similar to graduate coursework. I listen. I absorb. I learn. I put into practice. At least...that is the idea. My teachers are all true teachers who care about their students safety, well being and growth. Their words echo through my practice and through my day.

Breathe and be. Accept where you are. Practice compassion. Ahimsa. Sit in it. Deepen in. Nothing happens when you get there - where is there? No one cares if you can get your foot to your head. Don't tell yourself you're a "bad yogi" because you can't get into a posture! It is just a posture. Being, not doing. Let it go. It is about the journey, not the destination. Focus. Don't think too hard. Be where you are. Be present. You are stronger than you think you are.

I'm listening. I'm absorbing. I'm learning. I hope that will never change. Now, to go from the mat and into the world! True practice. I'm grateful for this indulgent weekend of true yoga. It also helped to further prepare me for a journey I'm embarking upon in January...yoga teacher training.