The Shakti Shine - January 28th, 2020
Shakti Love Notes
We are always growing. I love that! And the more I grow, the more I recognize how important it is for us all to share what we're going through-- even (and especially) me.
So these Love Notes are a space for me to share with you each week-- about the studio, my life, how our community is growing.
What does it mean to be in the flow?
I'm coming off of a second full weekend of teacher training at the studio, and this weekend we talked a lot about 'Flow like Water' as it shows up in the body. Soften the joints. Keep the pelvis neutral. Lift the front of the pelvis as the tailbone descends. Without water, the body becomes rigid, fixed, and unmovable.
Water gives room to move, adjust, intensify or soothe. It's always moving, and always ready. Water can even sculpt rock over time.
When I think about water, I think about the creek at the bottom of my driveway growing up.
Some days it would rush. Some seasons it would babble. But it was always moving, always in action. It was cold, refreshing. And the sound of the creek made me feel calm; the water had direction, intensity, and its current was fluid.
Water is always flowing in some way.
The definition of flow is 'the action or fact of moving along in a steady, continuous stream.' And in another sense, 'flow, also known as the zone, is the mental state of operation in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity.' And in yoga the word for 'flow' is 'vinyasa,' which also translates as 'to place in a special way.'
Action /
Moving /
Steady /
Continuous /
Immersed /
Energized Focus /
Full Involvement /
Enjoyment /
Process /
To Place /
Flow as a practice feels like ease, vitality, direction, and resolve.
In the Baptiste Methodology, the five pillars of practice are drishti, ujjayi, bandhas, tapas, & vinyasa, in that order. And it isn't until the gaze, breath, and core are in action that heat can build and finally in it's wake, flow.
It's like that in life, too.
First I have to set my sight on what I want to have happen.
Then I have to take action; I have to breathe life into it.
There's a gut feeling or core energy that keeps me engaged and propels me forward, even when it gets challenging.
That's when things start to shift and warm up. And it's somewhere just beyond that moment when it happens... I lose track of time. I am all in. I see, do, feel, and respond from a tapped in place.
I drop into flow.
True flow comes and goes. As a practice it's in and out. Most times it happens for just a moment. If I'm lucky it lasts a few minutes, maybe an hour every once in a while.
It happens sporadically in various places in my life. It happens in my yoga practice, when I run at Sandy Creek, when I play music, when I write, when I teach.
It's a feeling that's hard to articulate, and there's an energy to it that's electric.
And when I think about it now, I think flow is an effect of true presence in action.
Flow is the manifestation of 'I am here now in this.' And just like water, flow as a state of being will always take you somewhere, is always moving, intensely refreshing, and can even reshape the unmovable over time.
What does it mean for you to be in the flow? What does it look like? What does it feel like? How long does it last? Do you know how to find it? Do you think flow is an expression of presence? Of something else?
What does it mean for you to 'Flow like Water 'in your life on and off the mat?
xx
Ruby
Beyond the mat...
We love Athens.
And we love you.
So let's have more of that-- together.
Here's where you can see what we're up to outside of the studio.
Have ideas about where we should be / what we should check out / how we can show up?
Reply to this email to let us know.
This week \\
Join us Sunday for a 45 min flow with Sonja & a cup of batch brew!
Coming up \\
Galentine's is the sweaty-fun-femme event of the year.
Grab your girlfriends, and save your spot today.
LEAD WITH LOVE - 200 HR RYT Summer Immersion with Ruby
2 weeks. 200 hours.
2,000,000 moments of possibility.
June 13-19 & July 11-17
@ Shakti Yoga Athens
* Apply by March 1 to receive 30% off of a Bmat
INTENTIONS OF SHAKTI YOGA UNIVERSITY TRAININGS:
Discover your authentic and confident voice
Learn how to lead a power vinyasa yoga class in the style of Baptiste yoga
Learn how to clearly communicate with essential language and to speak from the heart
Learn how to give and receive effective feedback
Establish a powerful personal yoga and meditation practice
Learn tools to ignite your practice and teaching with a new understanding of anatomy and alignment
Learn the tools and techniques to lead guided meditation and a restorative yoga class within the Journey into Power sequence
Develop an understanding and appreciation of yoga philosophy
Learn the tools to give hands on assist in a JIP class
Dive into self-inquiry and be a stand for Your Biggest Best Life Possible
Learn the importance of Karma Yoga and being a stand for others
Learn about yoga as a business and what steps to take next
WHO SHOULD ATTEND SYU?
Anyone is eligible for these programs. Those who get the most out of their training are open to taking their personal power yoga practice to the next level, diving deeper into self-inquiry, physical asana, meditation, and learning more about yoga.
~ Inquiry Corner ~
Baptiste Methodology- This is why we do what we do. It's the foundation of the style of yoga we offer and sets the stage for our Up to Something Bigger attitude. Everything from how to show up, practices & techniques, and the structures to support.
This week: Get ready to learn more about asana, meditation, and inquiry!
Emily focuses on the "why" behind meditation and inquiry, 2 of the 3 Source Principles in Baptiste Methodology.
Check it out!
Y'all sign up for the text thread for inquiry corner? It's where Emily sends you weekly inquiry questions so you can stay in the work!
Text 'inquiry corner' to 31996, if not.
And watch our IGTV video for more info about this week's topic.