Yoga


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Letting Go of Performance and Learning to Observe

Matthew meditating on a rock near a river

Last weekend I attended a 4-day retreat put on by a nonprofit organization called onelove.yoga. The title of the retreat was: "Moments of Silence Yoga and Meditation Retreat to Grand Marais." As is often the case for me with meditation retreats, I left feeling nourished. Even better, I had a breakthrough. I realized why this weekend led to feelings of relaxation, renewal, and joy.

3 Takeways from My Plastic Free July

Circle containing the worlds plasticfreejuly.org choose to refuse single-use plastic
I've arrived at the end of Plastic Free July. It was a month that affected my life in meaningful ways. I've made it the whole month using very little plastic and I feel like I see the world differently. Recently, Ajahn Jayasaro used a metaphor that resonated with me: if you've lived in a dirty room your whole life, it's hard to forget a clean room if you see one. Seeing the abundance of plastic in the world has made the world feel a little bit like a dirty room and it has felt good to clean up the spaces I inhabit.

It's Time to Celebrate the International Day of Yoga

Blue Roll-Up Yoga Mat on a White Background, for fitness and meditation, with the title "international day of yoga"
Photo by Marco Verch (CC BY 2.0)

In 2014 the United Nations General Assembly declared June 21 the "International Day of Yoga" and it has been celebrated annually on June 21 ever since. Because so many people around the world embraced yoga to stay healthy and fight social isolation during the pandemic, the theme for 2022 is "yoga for humanity." How can you not like a day that is literally for humanity (the most abundant and widespread species of primate on the planet)?

Yoga Nidra Body Scan

Episode Number
40
Yoga nidra is an ancient technique, as old as any yoga, in which the body relaxes completely. It's used by healthcare workers, yoga therapists, the military, and others to help people with a variety of conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder. In this practice, we scan and relax the entire body.

To leave a comment about this episode or watch the video version, visit matthewtift.com/prettygood/40.

The theme music is "Maxixe" performed by Edson Lopes and the background music is "Organic Meditations One" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), both under CC BY 3.0.

Bhakti Vinyasa in February

Man seated in meditation with details about Bhakti Vinyasa classes

I have been teaching some "pop-up" Bhakti Vinyasa yoga classes and those will continue through February, and potentially longer depending on my schedule.

Bhakti Vinyasa is a strengthening, purifying, dynamic, devotional, and rejuvenating physical yoga practice fusing hatha vinyasa yoga (the union of body, breath, and movement) and bhakti (gratitude, compassion, devotion, open-heartedness, and humility).

Sign up at spiritofthelakeyoga.com

Mantra and Movement

Man sitting in the lotus position
Chanting mantras can help us bypass the mundane matters and mental chatter of daily life. I am offering a new weekly class called "Mantra and Movement" that combines the yoga of sound (nāda yoga) with the yoga of movement (asana) to support your physical health and spiritual development. You can choose to sing or listen to the sacred sounds, join in the movement or just sit. No prior musical or yoga experience is required for this class, and people from all belief systems are welcome.

Meditating with Music

Man wearing headphones meditating on a yoga

Most people who try meditation probably think of it as an activity done in silence. They might learn the common meditation technique where they observe sounds that happen to arise and notice the temporary nature of those sounds, but they probably would not expect those sounds to continue throughout their meditation. In other words, sound is understood to be a departure from the "real work" of sitting — or struggling to sit — peacefully in silence. Fortunately, there is more than one way to meditate and there isn't some rule that the only allowable "meditation music" is repetitions of John Cage's 4' 33".

Yoga, Sleep, and a New Bedtime Yoga Routine

Sleeping under the covers

The CDC, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Sleep Research Society, and many other sleep experts agree that adults need seven or more hours of sleep per night. Children need even more sleep. Further, sleep experts advise that a lack of sleep can lead to a wide variety of negative consequences. One "Consensus Statement" from representatives of these organizations warns:

Grand Reopening on Sunday

grand reopening flyer

This Sunday, September 12, will be the grand reopening of the new Spirit of the Lake studio at 6140 Lake Linden Drive in Shorewood. There will be free outdoor classes and in-studio classes running throughout the day, as well as chair massages, free hourly give-aways, and an opportunity to connect with the Spirit of the Lake yoga community. Sign up online to save your spot as the indoor classes are limited.

Yoga