There are valid reasons for fearing your edge – danger lurks there. But so does growth. If fear prevents you from playing your edge, that same fear is preventing you from learning, from progressing, from developing your full potential, including full health. How to play your edge, how to fly and avoid falling, and when to go past your edge – this is something a special teacher can show you. It requires trust – trust of your teacher and trust of yourself.
Your Body – Your Yoga: Part 3a The Planes of Movement
and a list of anatomical directions
A map is a handy device for navigating around unfamiliar landmarks, and to be able to use a map, we also need to know the cardinal directions: to know where north is, for example. Normally a map is a two-dimensional representation of space, but to navigate within our bodies, it is better to employ a three-dimensional representation. A 3-D map will help us in understanding how yoga postures move our bodies, and how our unique skeletal variations affect those movements.
PS: There is a quiz at the end of this article.
See how well you do! From the Gita to the Grail The Early Reviews
“Thoughtful readers who love to curl up with a good book; anyone who wants to understand their dreams, desires, and behaviors; all who want to stop sleepwalking along an unconsciously chosen path and make real choice possible in their lives; and all who have found their own cultural myths lacking will find their minds and hearts expanded here, in From the Gita to the Grail: Exploring Yoga Stories and Western Myths.” From Kristine Morris of ForeWord Review.
Yin is In! And, it is growing in popularity. Yin Yoga has been with us since the beginning of Hatha Yoga centuries ago. But since the early 19th century, yoga has become more and more yang-like in nature. Everything requires balance: yin completes yang. Yin Yoga is the balancing practice for the more active, muscular yang yogas. There are more and more teachers offering Yin Yoga today, and more workshops and opportunities to learn how to become a Yin Yoga teacher. If diving deeper into the yin-side of life is on your bucket list, there are lots of opportunities for you.
Upcoming Trainings and Retreats with Bernie Clark
50-hour, 7-Day Yin Yoga Teacher Trainings May 12th-18th, 2014; August 25th-31st, 2014; November 10th-16th, 2014; Feb 9th-15th, 2015; May 11th-17th, 2015; August 23rd-30th, 2015; November 9th-15th, 2015.
All of these will be at the Semperviva Yoga Studios, in Vancouver, Canada. The Yin Yoga Teacher Training Program offered at the Semperviva Yoga College is a unique way to deepen your yoga practice and touch tissues rarely worked in a more active yang style of yoga. For 200 hour certified teachers the credits of the course can be applied towards the 500 hour certification, and are eligible for CEUs with Yoga Alliance. (CEUs = Continuing Education Units and are required to maintain your status as a Registered Yoga Teacher).
For more details or to register, check the Semperviva web page or call them at 604-739-2009.
A 60 hour, 7-Day Yin Yoga Teacher Training & Retreat June 29th to July 6th, 2014
This will be at the lovely Sea-to-Sky Retreat Center (SSRC) but it is sold out already. We can take names for a standby list, however. Visit SSRC 2014 for more information and comments from past attendees.
MEDITATION REVEALED With Bernie Clark & Nathalie Keiller
November 16th – 23rd, 2014; May 17th-24th, 2015; November 15th-22nd, 2015.
This course will examine what meditation is, why we do it (its many benefits, spiritually, psychologically and physically), and how to do it, from a variety of viewpoints: From Eastern Yogic and Buddhist views to Western Psychotherapeutic understanding. The course will include personal, one-on-one training in Deep Meditation, as well as group instruction, to give the student an experiential basis for the practice of meditation. Held at the Semperviva Yoga Studios – Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Learn More
The forum is available for anyone to ask questions about Yin Yoga in particular or Yoga in general, but the forum is not just for those who “don’t know” – it is also available for everyone who already know, and have stories and information to share with others. Here is just one example: if you are looking for some great music to accompany your Yin Yoga classes check out this post, which has many suggestions. Feel free to add your favourite music to the thread.
If you are having trouble finding a Yin Yoga teacher near you, or if you are traveling to somewhere new, try checking out the Directory of Yin Yoga teachers. We have hundreds of teachers registered from all over the world. If you are a teacher and are not in the directory, just send us your information and we’ll be happy to add you.
Paul Grilley, Sarah Powers, and Biff Mithoefer are each planning a full load of workshops all over the world. You can check out their schedules at their home web pages:
Many teachers around the world are creating Yin Yoga based workshops and retreats. Some of them are posting these activities on our Forum page. Check it out. There may be one happening near you. (If you are a teacher, feel free to add yours to the page!)
Playing Your Edge
How far should you go in your yoga practice? Should you push beyond your limits? What are our edges and where are our edges? Find out!
Your Body – Your Yoga: Part 3a
The Planes of Movement
The directions of movement in yoga poses seem simple, on the surface, but the body is not simple. Learning the ways you move can you help decide when to go further and when you have had enough.
From the Gita to the Grail:
Recent Reviews
New reviews are circulating about Bernie’s latest book. Check out what others have to say about what you will find within: about mythology, what it means to yogis and what the stories you grew up with might mean for you.
Teacher Trainings & Retreats
There are several Yin Yoga teacher training courses being held by Bernie Clark in 2014, including a special 40-hour course called Meditation Revealed. These courses often sell out early, but there is still some space available for the February, 2014 training. Click here to learn more.
Checking out Other Interesting Events
There are many teachers leading workshops, Yin Yoga retreats and Teacher Trainings. Click here to learn more.
