Yogarosa Blog

So now I have been practicing Iyengar Yoga for almost 16 years. I feel so lucky! When I started, I thought it was all about alignment. In the beginning it was for me. I was stiff and I was weak. I used to suffer from back pain, and in this yoga I found relief. I also found myself. The postures were difficult in the beginning, but something kept me coming back again and again. When I decided to go to India in 1998, and saw Mr. Iyengar in action, I think I really started to understand this work. It was during his 80th Birthday Celebration in Pune, India, when he said that in Virabhadrasana 2 (Warrior 2) we had to feel our soul all the way to the fingertips. I felt somethingwarm vibrating from my chest into my arms, and ultimately into my fingertips. I had never experienced that before. It left me quiet, and at peace. (Even tough we were holding the pose for a while.) I continued on my path of learning, and along the way I found myself getting stronger, but I also found myself growing c...

This is the month best known for Valentine's Day. This could have two main effects on you. Either you love it, or you hate it. If you're in a relationship, there may be expectations built up, and if you're not, there may be some sadness, or loneliness. So how can we celebrate the month of love? First, let's define the word, LOVE. After all, we love our grandmother, and our puppy. We love pizza and chocolate. What is love really? According to the Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, the definition of love is, "strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties." Dictionary.com says,"a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person." They both also define love as an attraction based on sexual desire. Webster's goes on to define it as "a person's adoration of God." There are other definitions, which vary on these three basic themes. But does love always have to be directed towards someone else? T...

I arrived as usual on a Tuesday to teach a yoga class at Harbor Towers Condominium in Aventura. I had no idea this day would mark a historic day. The date was Sept. 11, 2001. I noticed two students in their car listening to the news. They told me they'd be in the class in a few minutes, as a plane had crashed into the Twin Towers, and they were trying to talk to their family, as a cousin worked there. I don't know why I thought it was not possible, and maybe they had wrong information. They came in, but warned me that they were leaving their phone on during the yoga class. I normally don;t allow cell phones on in class, but they were distraught and it seemed to be the right thing to do. Everyone else agreed. I started teaching the class with prayers and blessings to those who may suffer, and for us not to worry until we had more information. The air seemed heavy. Is it selfish for us to be doing yoga when it seems that a tragedy just occurred? Halfway through the class, th...

Our Yoga practice is much more than physical. When we are feeling whole, our practice can support us in dealing with difficult situations or people. It's easy being peaceful in the studio, where the energy is quiet. (usually!) But how do we react with a driver who cuts us off? How do we react with difficult family members or business associates? This is the true yoga practice: off the mat. This is why it's called a yoga "practice". For example, each time we practice Utthita Trikonasana (Triangle Pose), we are training our muscles to find a better position, and as we progress, there is growth. Similarly, when we are faced with a difficult situation, we can encounter it as another Triangle Pose: an opportunity for growth. So each time you are faced with a challenge, think of your teacher when she says: "Come watch". Don't judge it, but look at it from the outside. Be a witness, and you'll find peace in on observing rather than in reacting. It's pr...

The start of the World Cup with Mexico vs. South Africa made me think about the parallels of yoga and soccer. The word yoga means union, and the World Cup is just that: The world comes together during this exciting time. Even those of us not lucky enough to be watching the games live in South Africa, are glued to the TV. Which brings me to my next point. In yoga, we develop a focal point to help aide concentration. This focal point can be a candle, a chant, or even the body. In soccer, it's the ball. We follow the ball, or should I say, millions of us follow the ball. During this time, we are not thinking about anything else-- this is the goal (another similarity) of yoga: to quiet the mind. The players are like the mind: running around trying to get focused. But what about when there's a goal? If it's your team, you have experienced enlightenment. If not, you return to the obstacles of yoga: anger, envy, etc. And if your team wins? Euphoria, bliss, Samadhi (the goal of yog...

Whether you are one, have one, had one, or want to be one, we wish you love and blessings. If you are at peace with your mother or not, we send you blessings. If you are a mother and are suffering, we pray for you. If you are causing your mother's suffering, we pray for you. Mothers come in all shapes and sizes. Some are loud, some are soft. Some are nice, some are not. Some may have taken that role for someone's benefit. However yours manifested into your life, she helped you become who you are today. Thank her for that, and know that our world is temporary, and so is our (and her's) pain and suffering. Let go of past pain. Live in the moment, and choose peace in  this moment.  Namaste.