Over the years people have asked if yoga is a religion. Some believe that in order to practice yoga they need to change religions. Others are afraid that the practice of yoga will interfere with their personal belief system. This subject came up again during one of my one of my yoga teacher training weekends, as my students and I discussed the importance of the study  of sacred texts and yoga.

I am not sure when or how people find themselves having to choose between Yoga and Religion. Yoga to me has never been about any particular religion nor trying to get people to believe in something they don’t.  As I see it, yoga has brought me and many others closer to our own personal beliefs. Yoga has given me the opportunity to learn more about myself, to deepen my connection to God, the Divine, the Creator or the Universe (whatever you choose to call it).

One of the many translations for the word Yoga is “Union”. Yoga strives to bring all aspects of our beings into wholeness regardless of what or whom we choose to believe in.

Even though Yoga started in India, many practitioners around the world are not Hindus. I have not been to any yoga class where they  have asked me if I was part of any specific religion in order to be able to participate in class.

Some view yoga as a physical practice or exercises while others believe and know that Yoga is much more than that. Yoga is a system of wellness that helps bring our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual being into UNION.

Yoga is a spiritual practice that helps us remember to live a honest, loving and respectful life. It encourages us to treat others with kindness and respect. It tells us to remember our true essence. You may find that in many classes the teachers and other participants chant OM. This word has no religious connotation and you can choose to participate or not while it’s being chanted. You will also hear words like “Namaste” and/or “Shanti”. These words mean “I honor the Divine within you” and “Peace”. Words that can be said regardless of any particular religion.

If you have been thinking about trying a yoga class, but you are hesitant because you think you have to change who you are or what you believe in, now you know that the only requisites to try a yoga class is to be yourself and breath.

To see and read this article in yoganonymous you can click here

Love,

Adri

I will be teaching a round robin class at 10:15 am and then I will be offering a Prana Flow Yoga demo at 2:00 pm

I hope you can Join us!

I have been an ambassador for Manduka for over 4 years or so…. It was a nice  surprised when I found out that they used my picture in their 2012 spring catalog and it was featured in their website as well. What a treat!

I love Manduka and their products (specially their mats). I have 3 different manduka mats for all my yoga needs, one for my home practice (black pro super heavy and awesome), one for when I teach (pro lite) and take classes around town and I recently got my travel mat. I love it so much. It is light and I can fold it so I no longer need to carry my mat with me when I travel.

Manduka gave me this coupon INNERBEAUTYYOGA to share with you for a 10% discount on your next purchase.

Happy Manduka Shopping!

Love and Peace,

Adri

I just came back from an amazing weekend in Canada renewed, empowered and with new found Inspiration. I am so grateful for the opportunity to meet and practice with such a lovely group of yogis, who opened their hearts to make me feel welcome and like one of their own.

When I first started teaching yoga,  I knew how powerful yoga can be but I did not know how powerful yoga can be when you surrender completely and get out of your own way…. Not just for the students but for us as teachers as well.

I found myself teaching this weekend to a group of yogis I have never met, yet there was a sense of trust and connection from the very beginning. We were ready to breath, move, and dance together. We were ready to flourish and awaken….

The transformation I witnessed within myself and among everyone present was a gift we all welcomed. Tears of joy and gratitude along with laughter, love and hope filled the room through many of our sessions.

Many of us got more clear definitions of what and where we want to be. Many of us got confirmation that we are doing exactly what we need to be doing or that we are on the right path. Some of us stepped out of our comfort zone and reached new highs never thought possible.

Trance dance was one of those moments for me. I have participated in many trance dances led by others. I danced to my fullest without any limitations or concerns, but I have never led a Trance Dance on my own before this weekend. I felt I was not ready yet. I made excuses and tried to justify it by making statements like” I am afraid that people won’t come or I would wonder how I would be judged….”

The day came and I could not hide or run anymore. I would find freedom and the willingness to be vulnerable to dance for my own liberation.

The saying, “when the teacher is ready the students will appear”, is not a joke! I not only got several students but the people that participated were looking for something like this for months. We all danced till exhaustion. We all danced to be moved and transformed. We all danced to find freedom.

The most powerful part about all this was that I completely surrendered and got out of my own way. I did not worry about the DJ having the perfect songs to play in the order I would like, or what to say, what to do and when. I trusted myself, I trusted the flow, I trusted that I would be guided in the right direction. I opened my heart and got out of my head! This was my yoga in action, I let go and let God guide me and take over and the best part was everyone did the same.

This was very transformational for me because I gave myself the space to be open and let things unfold naturally. I am someone that likes to plan, organize and have everything ready so I can do my very best….Don’t get me wrong I prepared and thought about few things, I even asked a friend for advise but at the end I let my heart be the guide.

Many of the participants were so grateful for my teaching and for what I was able to offer to them but I am not sure if they realized how much the gave me as well.

Here is something one of the students wrote about how she felt after the weekend with me.

“I feel my tummy… my own power and strength… I feel the flame burning stronger and higher than ever to continue trusting my hearts passion in holding space for reverencing water, honouring and recognizing our fluid bodies, going with flow, adapting, ever changing, cleansing and nourishing souls, welcoming tears for healing, allowing E (energy) Motion to be felt and move through, for clarity, for vision, for miracles and manifesting and revealing uncensored truths. I am water, strong and powerful yet yielding to that which rises as resistance in my mind and body…. and in the heart of that… I find surrender and peace. Thank you Adri Kyser ” ~ Sheena

I am so grateful for this weekend and for the opportunity I get everyday to step on my mat and follow my heart.

When was the last time you found yourself completely free? When was the last time you gave yourself permission to try something new, let go of control and found complete surrender? Maybe today is the day you dance for freedom and liberation!

To find this or any other of my articles in Elephant Journal.com, please click here

Love and Peace,

Adri

Here are few things included in the retreat:

It may not make us perfect but it sure helps us be better….

Sometimes life gets so busy that we forget to notice what is happening around us. We forget that we need to slow down and appreciate what we have. We seem to look endlessly for ways to find joy, peace and health. Unfortunately, we try so hard during our quest that we loose sight of those very things we are looking for.

Life is short and what we have today can be taken away in a second. I am not saying to live in fear but I am saying let’s appreciate what we have. Let’s make a conscious effort to notice how our actions, thoughts, and words can impact us, can impact everyone and everything around us as well.

This is nothing new. I am sure you have heard this a million times but my question to you is: then why do we need to be reminded of this so many FREAKING times? Because it is a matter or Practice, Practice and more Practice! Many of us give thanks for our loved ones and for the blessings in our lives everyday. We feel good about our daily practice of gratitude but somehow, between here and there, we get caught up in the illusion of separation, lack and fear.

People around the world are spending a fortune trying to find beauty, purpose, health, peace and so many more things outside themselves. It has become so easy to blame others for our pain, our lack of health, our money problems and so on that we forget that all we need is within us. It sounds easy, simple and even comical. I know. If someone is in huge debt how does looking within going to pay that debt you may ask? For starters, when we slow down and look within by meditating or by paying attention to our self-talk, our patterns and behavior, we can begin to see the things we do subconsciously to attract our current situation. If money problems is your issue, you can discover how your relationship with money, your feelings towards having it, etc, comes from and affects you. If you ask anyone if they would rather be poor or rich almost 99% will say rich, but soon after they get money they loose or spend it all. Why? Because they only change a temporary situation but their thoughts, feelings and subconscious behavior have not. More on that later on a future post but for now do you get what I am trying to say?

We are human and I am also practicing daily my own yoga path, I have been so busy that I have forgotten to slow down and pay attention on how my actions are affecting me and those around me. Today I was truly touched by an article one of my students wrote and published in Elephant Journal.

In her article, my student writes about many relevant things that she is going through and has learned during the process, but she also talks about how MY CLASS that day helped her during a hard time in her life…. This is what she wrote: “Master Teacher, Adri Kyser’s, theme and mantra for our practice was: “If not now, when?” Life is short. Too short, it seems sometimes. A good yoga teacher will bring that element of manifestation to your practice. Set your intention. Put some energy behind it. Then go out there and manifest it. If not now, when? I cried in savasana, seemingly appropriate being Corpse Pose. She placed one loving hand on my third eye chakra and one on my chest, bringing my aching heart and questioning mind together in balance with a “peace that passes all understanding”.

This reminded me of the gift we can all share. It also reminded me of how we can touch someone’s life and can make a difference without us ever knowing. I am grateful that my student gave me this gift. How many times a thank you, a smile, a hug, a comment has meant the world to you and the giver never knew of its impact? It is my hope that you have experienced this many times in your life as the receiver and as the giver. If anyone has made a difference in your life take a moment to give thanks for their gift.

The other side of the coin also affects us. That is when our actions, thoughts and behavior affect others in a negative way. How many times have you or someone you know been affected by negative behavior? Maybe one day you where minding your own business when your co –worker lashed out at you hurting your feelings. Then you found out he had been having problems and his negative emotions affected you in a negative way. So next time you are in bad mood and get behind the wheel, don’t cut some one off! Remember how your actions can affect others.

It is a gift to be able to be present and mindful of your thoughts, words and actions; do what you love and help others in the process. Sure it is nice to be recognized for your efforts and good deeds but if you don’t that is okay too. Whatever you do, do it because it makes you happy, because you love it and because if you feel good others around you also will. Don’t loose focus and know that the universe is paying attention. If Not Now, When?

Namaste,

Adri

Ps: To view this or any of my other articles published in Elephant Journal click here

I will guide you  through a series of hip openers, core work, arm balances and fluid movements that will awaken your body to the flow of Prana – Universal Consciousness. The purpose of this class is to help you let go of the thinking mind and to soften and surrender as you let your breath and the Flow of Prana guide every movement.

Awaken to the Flow is open to all levels as I offer several stages or kramas suitable for every practitioner. You also can visit my free vignettes instructional videos at yogavibes.

I hope you can join me and awaken the natural flow within.

Love and Peace,

Adri

Come and join me on March 2nd-4th as we practice some great Prana Flow classes during our teacher training weekend.

If you are a student wanting to take your practice to a new level or a teacher looking for new ideas and CEU’s you can join us on Friday, March 2nd at 5 pm and/or Sunday March 4th at 9:30 am. You will receive a total of 3 CEU’s hours approved by Yoga Alliance for both classes.

Friday’s class is all about deepening your backbends including some inversions. During this practice, we will explore and connect with our heart center tending the sacred fire within.

Sunday’s morning class is all about igniting, energizing and invigorating your mind and body. During this dynamic class, we will create purifying heat to cleanse and release toxins and old patterns that are holding us back at the mental, physical and emotional level.

One class $30 and both for $50

For more information you can click here