Gaia Community: Sanieh's Blog

Layla, my Buddha.

http://saniehyoga.gaia.com — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:54:43 GMT

On the fly, I can't tell you the last time I was full on committed to someone. I commit all the time; to my students, reinvention, putting myself out there as incriminating or vulnerable as it may be or seem (not sure if you believe me? Check this out and you will see what I mean! http://www.youtube.com/saniehyoga...) but not in this way. It's been a while.

This is Layla and right now, I am celebrating her for stepping into her fear that is my staircase leading up to my office. That and the fact that she has pottied outside a few times now. I'm not sure I have *ever* celebrated anyone's "going potty" ever in life...although I'm soon to be an Aunt...but this moment is my first.

Layla; She who has, in less than 24 hrs, made me laugh, brought more patience into my being, brought me close to tears, made me proud and worried me pretty good a few times over.

She's got special needs; emotional needs. (Don't we all?). She was in a home, maybe a few and for one reason or another, they gave her up so no telling how many places she stepped into with uncertainty. I had to remember this (thank you, Elsa) when she stepped into mine yesterday and 10 min later, unloaded a big, wet poo and wouldn't budge when I tried to get her outside. She didn't associate my home with *her* home and probably wondered who the heck I was and why I was still around after a few days of visitation.

She was pulled from death row the night before she was suppose to be euthinized which was just 3 weeks ago.

*Internal Dialog* "

I wonder if she knows I've saved her life and that of whoever got her former spot last night after I committed to her?"

"Does she love me or will she?"

"It can't matter; not right now. I *have* to love *her*."

I remember getting a dog on impulse when I was married. I remember (shamefully) not listening to the signals he was trying to tell us and not thinking about the obvious (you eat, you eventually have to download it out ("Apana Vayu", Sanieh, come on... You know this)

*Observations as I write*...

"I think she might still have a little upper respiratory? Her nose sounds clogged. Or is that residue from the kennel cough she was just treated for? Still concerned over the pace of her breath." Worried? Yes.

I realized this may sound dramatic for those parents of human beings but Yesterday, I embraced my inner great mother and today, I *have* to be patient, firm, forgiving, nurturing, teacher, *and* student.

Layla.

She's 10-12 months of nothing but cuddling lap love (she knows not her size). Already a little Buddha. An awakened one. Awakened to nothing but forgiveness, trust and ultimate love and she surrenders herself to my care.

Today, I'm a little less self involved than I was yesterday. I have to think of her needs before my own sometimes now if I want to help her emotionally and get her out of her depression and any anxiety she may have. I have to do what I do and that's to love. I have to love her. And to love her is to go *beyond* providing her basic needs. "She's already starting to trust me, already starting to let me in. All I have to do is love her", I keep reminding myself in my fear, "and I'm *good* at that".

All I have to do is love.
Everything good falls under loving.

To our everyday teachers in life and love,
Sanieh

www.saniehyoga.com
www.facebook.com/saniehyoga
www.youtube.com/saniehyoga
www.twitter.com/saniehyoga

Tags: Buddha, love, forgiveness, patience, fear, yoga, austin yoga, prana vinyasa flow, Dogs

Is your Yoga working?

http://saniehyoga.gaia.com — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 03:04:03 GMT

(shameless plug: for a list of many events/workshops, private lesson giveaways, yoga and live music offerings and yoga trance dances all starting this coming friday, Oct. 23- Dec... email sanieh@saniehyoga.com and I will send you the most recent newsletter with all the listings! Pre Reg is already open and spots are filling up...so get it get it! )

Apologies for not being a regular as I have been in the past, it's been for good reason though.

I'm finally getting settled into the "second" new home space. I have finally completed the arrangement of my alters (which always seem to change with the tide of my ever changing life...) and getting minor repairs done as well as organizing in the new space of which I am so grateful for having. So grateful.

When I think about where I am, where I have come from, and the many storms that I have had to weather to *arrive*, with all that I AM, I say to you... I AM GRATEFUL.

I know that at anytime, these *things* and even the simplicity of my life could be stripped away for any number of reasons.

I've been so blessed this year with many opportunities that have come my way but also in the "darshan" or divine seeing of Truth in action as well as painful realities of illusion posing as Truth.

I am reminded of a saying I came across long ago in Sanskrit. It read "My life is my message." I try to never forget this.

In a recent conversation with my sweet friend, Gioconda, I shared that I feel like I'm finally at a point in my yoga practice, where I have put down the books and am honestly living it. What I mean is that there is an initial place in which we often find ourselves, where we talk the talk, read the books and try to teach what we have learned, but when it comes time to enter the battle field, we drop the ball. Recent times have proven that I AM doing the work now and when it's not easy is when I believe we strengthen the "weak link"; that part of ourselves that longs to tell "the stories" as explanation, and/or verbally fight the battle that serves nothing towards the higher good of anyone or anything involved.

There was a recent moment I experience with face in hands, tears rolling from eyeballs down to chin and leaping down onto my shirt when I wanted to be ugly, nasty, hateful and hurtful because I was hurt. In that moment, I realized and remembered the only real questions that mattered...

"Is your yoga working?"
and
"What will you do with it?"

I realized that while I wanted to "take a stand" and "defend" myself in what was untruth, hurtful, and illusion at best, I needed to check myself at a time when it was most difficult, to actually SEE if my yoga was working. Part of this practice, in my experience, was also about finding understanding of perspective that was not my own and softening into forgiveness as it continued to be difficult and painful in standing knee deep in a pile of illusional manure.

We are all human. We all know what victory taste like and we all know what pain feels like in our moments of raw honestly. If we ask ourselves if our yoga is WORKING... if we go into the closet and ask this of ourselves, out loud, where nobody ever hears our secret thoughts, or lies, our truths, and the beating of our heart... what is the answer? What is YOUR answer?

We are all bound to fall at some point or another, but the question remains... do you get back UP? When you bomb, and mess up, do you OWN it and GET BACK UP?

This isn't about "age" or "time in" or how bendy or strong you can make it. This is about PRACTICE.

There's been a real transformation going on within my heart for a handful of months lately and in (tiny) part, this is it.

How can I live it, own it, and breathe it just a little bit more today than I *would* have yesterday? When I don't WANT to live it, when I want to say "F$$$ my spiritual path, its too much right now", do I have the *strength* to practice whole heartedly; moving from LOVE towards that which seems (in the moment anyway) undeserving of my love? To what degree will I be able to sit in the unknown and practice TRUST and *really* believe what seems to roll off the tongue of us all so easily as we say "trust the unknown" or "everything happens for a reason"?

So tonight, I sit here in this small but love-filled space, not without frustrations or stresses or a slightly aching heart... but with full understanding, realization, and for this, a moment of enlightenment...because I am with gratitude for the many blessings in my life; past, present, and unknown; and know that there isn't a whole lot that separates me from the next person "without".

With this understanding I can sit here with tear-filled eyes in gratitude and in acknowledgement of my "Buddha (awakened) Nature" in being AWARE and Grateful for the depth of which I have developed and continue to strengthen living my yoga.

lovelovelove,
Sanieh
www.saniehyoga.com
www.facebook.com/saniehyoga
www.youtube.com/saniehyoga
www.twitter.com/saniehyoga

Tags: Austin yoga, sanieh yoga, prana vinyasa flow yoga

MIA

http://saniehyoga.gaia.com — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 04:10:13 GMT

Goodness I've been MIA on this blog for way too long! I had the misfortune of experiencing TWO moves in 3 weeks and finally got back online TODAY... It's all anchoring again but I'm a little behind with some of these things! Flying out to LA next weekend for a photo shoot so it's GO TIME between now and then in an effort to get "caught up" a bit!

So in this super saver, super dooper, super SHORT blog entry, this is what's coming ahead :

*News Letter to be emailed out very soon! Email me: sanieh@saniehyoga.com with "newsletter" in subject line
*Yoga Trace Dance Friday Oct 23rd at Yoga Vida!
*"Hearts on Fire" special class/workshop with live eastern percussion and kirtan Friday Oct 30 at Dharma Yoga
*Texas Yoga Retreat schedule (I'm presenting :) November
*Transmission Yoga Programs and Private Lessons available
*Revamping of Sanieh Yoga website underway... be looking out for stickers and magnets with my new logo that I'm so proud of and excited about. The process of creating my first logo was a sweet one seeing that I had a strong conviction of wanting the details to be a reflection of both where I am and where I'm headed ... just like the flow of the new website... (FYI-I'm thinking of doing some kind of "contest" for most creative "public display of *Sanieh Yoga* love" :) Ideas? Send them my way!

Well sometime between an incredible first day of ACL (Kings of Leon! My ears are still ringing...) and this evening, I feel my body working hard to fight off a little something. I've got my kitchen counter looking a little similar to how it looked PRE India (when I was loading up my immune system a month out) and so I'm going to keep it chill for the rest of the weekend in an effort to take care of my body. Tomorrow may be somewhat of an internal "nesting" day with work including but not limited too: a longer blog entry, some goal revamping, catching up on workshop proposals and emails, cleaning everything off the floor of new home space, and more...

For now, it's time to sleep :)

www.saniehyoga.com
www.facebook/saniehyoga

Tags: austin, yoga, austin yoga, ACL

Today's Yoga

http://saniehyoga.gaia.com — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:37:40 GMT

Sometimes I see so clearly where I have grown in my spiritual practice and sometimes I am forced to see just where I need to take a little extra time and sit. These days, I am mostly trying to find compassion and forgiveness for my foul ups along the way while remembering that its all part of it.

Every so often I write about "a seekers mishaps" on this path that is not pleasing to myself and today is one of those days. I acted in a way that did not sit well with me, a few times actually, and in a way that made me feel shameful and defeated in spirit because of it...even if for a moment. I acted in a way that lacked my deepest and genuine ability to move from kindness and patience while walking into the situation without understanding and forgiveness up front despite how legit the issue at hand may have been. Whether or not anyone else viewed what I experienced *in myself* the same way or not, I am still left feeling "less than" because I acted in a way that was not aligned with my spiritual intentions. I could have easily moved from a different place had I paused and realized that everything was magnified due to the collective of things happening at once. Not necessarily bad, just the overwhelming aspect of it all.

My experience teaches me that we must free ourselves in voice, in guilt, in creativity, in pleasure, in love .. in all ways and when I'm teaching I often share why I am a fan of an open mouth exhalation. This is part of the reason why. I share this because I think its easy for yoga teachers to get wrapped up being raised up or put on a level that isn't real. The truth is, every one of us has to look at ourselves long and hard at some point. It's called Sva Yaya or self study and it's part of the 8 fold path. Yoga is my Dharma... it does ME; therefore I practice this often and it "ain't" always pretty! I realize that dissolution must happen before recreation though... OM Namah Shivaya!

Sengstan wrote "Do not seek perfection in a changing world. Instead, perfect your love."

I love this. It's perfect because we can use it as compassion for ourselves. Instead of seeking perfection, it's always about progress because perfection doesn't exist in that light. If we perfect our LOVE, which is all encompassing with compassion, grace, loyalty, forgiveness etc, then we learn to offer ourselves the "compassion mudra" and move on.

It's true that yoga teaches us to get in touch with our sensitivity. I came out of the womb that way so for me its really about turning on the intuitive side of that sensitivity and keeping aligned with it. Part of my development of this is that I am so very in touch with the biofeedback of my body, belly brain and heart teacher so the signals are there INSIDE when I don't "do well". Just as we can become addicted to the search for bliss on the mat or in life, sometimes we can hold onto the crud a little too long also.

This is my yoga for today... To let go of my attachment to what I didn't do well and to follow through with my resolution I posted on FB last night :

Tonight I resolve to love, light up, let go, live, laugh, love some more, *let* love, move intelligently and fluidly within my choices and the unchosen, brew, STEEP, become more and more potent in my SoUl, BreaK the bubble, bREAk the mold, driiiiip with fullness, ooooze with passion and tenacity, love the mystery, embrace my sensuality, own my dharma, and vow to do it all WELL and over and over and over...

To letting Go, finding forgiveness for ourselves, and moving on.

With Gratitude and an open, self-forgiving heart,
Sanieh
http://www.saniehyoga.com/
www.facebook.com/saniehyoga
www.twitter.com/saniehyoga (for real time updates/class substitutions and random musings)

Tags: austin yoga, sanieh yoga, sva yaya, 8 fold path, prana vinyasa flow austin

Pausing

http://saniehyoga.gaia.com — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:48:10 GMT

(Photo- Loved this sign outside of a health food store in the Seminyak village in Bali, Indonesia)

sit here in a new home, with a new schedule, new intentions and new goals. With this, I sit here with new and fresh disappointments as well as a full heart with a new found peace and a deeper sense of love and light within myself.

I remember days in what seems to be a life that was not so well lived, a lifetime ago; a young girl, so lost and without a sense of wonder for anything, and it's most humbling to be in this same "medium", in this same body and feel more radiant, more blessed, healthier and with a much stronger sense of purpose than I could have ever imagined back then.

I'm more accepting of my "humanness" today. I'm not free of discomforts, or self defeating thoughts 100% of the time, but I AM free.

I'm free from myself; out of captivity of my thinker and when I start to walk back into that coffin, I am reminded that I hold the key. I am reminded, as the Tao teaches, "If you wish to free yourself from the cage, you must die while you are alive". I have never forgotten this over the years since it's so clear that it means I have to die to MYSELF... to my habits, ways of thinking, and everything else.

Yoga teaches me that at the end of every day, I have to die to myself, again and again... if I want to WAKE UP; if I want to become stronger, more evolved and more beautiful in my soul than I was before. Yoga teaches me that I am radiant even when I forget it; and when I *do* forget, I step into this temple that is my body, my body in asana, my body in difficulty, and right into the the manas puja; or the divine shrine of my heart, and I remember that I can look out at everyone, everything, at YOU; and see myself.

I am whole.
I am full.
I am radiant.
I am beautiful.
I am blessed.
I am encouraged.
I am supported.
I am love.
I am with depth.
I am. I just AM.

all Love.
Sanieh
www.saniehyoga.com
facebook.com/saniehyoga
twitter.com/saniehyoga

Tags: Austin, Austin Yoga, Prana Vinyasa Flow, Yoga

Tuesday Sept.1 "No Effort is Ever Wasted"

http://saniehyoga.gaia.com — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:54:12 GMT

(photo: In Kerala, India March 2009...such a kind yet powerful creature...please note that they are considerably kind (they worship them) to Elephants in India than in the US... the chains are there to keep Ganesha grounded as means of safety...))

...This is what the Bhagavad Gita teaches us (which was one of 3 possessions Gandhi owned at the time of his death if I remember correctly).

I forgot this for a moment today when I stopped and brought my entire energies back into my own noisy internal world as I decided that "taking a nap" to escape what's real and dwell in what's only "mind stuff" was the answer. Yoga teaches us that it's OK to stop, it's OK to fall and it's OK to shut down for a moment.... so long as we can step outside of ourselves in terms of this body and this thinker and remember that whatever it is that brings us to this place is not what defines our essence. I have a permanent reminder that I am not what I feel or think and that yesterday is gone, tomorrow is an illusion and that today, the PRESENT, is where I need to be and keep my energies. It's OK to feel... it's not ok to define ourselves what what we feel or think. The only thing permanent is impermanence.

Just like venturing into arm balances on the mat, Even when we fall, we first had to take a step and for some, we even jumped. As a RESULT of movement rather than being STATIC, we fell. With bringing yoga to every aspect of our lives we see this more clearly over time and we get up faster, become more forgiving and patience with ourselves and as a result, with other people and the world around us.

On an entirely different level than you intended with your email, Thanks Keith W., for the angelic and auspicious reminder that I needed today.

"On this Path no effort is ever wasted, no gain is ever reversed" - Bhagavad Gita lovelovelove,
sanieh
http://www.saniehyoga.com/
www.twitter.com/saniehyoga
www.facebook.com/saniehyoga

Tags: Bhagavad Gita, Austin Yoga, Prana Vinyasa Flow

Friday

http://saniehyoga.gaia.com — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 02:13:18 GMT

Ohh it's going busy week ahead...

Before moving South on Friday, I've got lined up: a few private lessons, meetings, conference calls, lots of "boxing up", cleaning, clearing, new lease signing, and Ikea going :) It's going to be a good, but full week and I'm looking forward to it.

Working to get some thing lined up in the near future is keeping me super busy (and inspired!) as well. Here are a few things I'm currently working on:

*scheduling Yoga Trance Dance at Yoga Vida 707 for October
*pending details for Dharma Yoga workshop in Oct with Chris (percussionist friend I play with)
*scheduling short day or wknd in Venice Beach in October
*possibly scheduling clinic at Pure Austin Town Lake for December
*scheduling travel teaching weekends for Early 2010
*Goals-reassessing... this is ongoing and a big part of my every week :)
*getting new website and "fixins" up and going before I leave for Yoga Journal Estes Park at the end of Sept... which means I need to ...
*schedule another photo shoot (local) then...
*get to working to with Mike on the e-commerce and "all that jazz"
*find a guitar show to sell the "step-child" , albeit beautiful, blue guitar of mine. The more I dedicate myself to playing, the more I realize I only need one.
*seems like I'm forgetting a lot, but at least I was able to squeeze this much out of my thinker without my "book" in front of me at 8:50pm on an innocent Friday night :D

I intend to start getting some things in boxes on Monday; that will make me feel better in that I'm looking around and there is no sign of moving at the moment. Speaking of Monday, my first class at Pure Austin Town Lake on Monday nights isn't going to be until the 14th!?!?! since the first is on a Tuesday, then Monday 7th is Free Day of Yoga so there aren't any regularly scheduled classes. Bugger!

I am looking forward to the weekend however. Tomorrow day/night will be spent with 5 other lady friends in the spirit of Leah's birthday. She's ordered pedicures, an afternoon at the Springs, back to her place to get ready (mine as well order in for as long as it's going to take 6 gals to put on their dancing shoes with one bathroom!), dinner on SoCo and then random cab ride to destination unknown. It should be a good time. Oh, and it doesn't end there. The "agenda" clearly states that we wake up and attend Shirley's (from Pure) "SLASH" event at Lululemon on Sunday morning as well! Good thing Chicago Mike will be there with his "KoolKones" :) If you are wondering what those are, you will have to show up and taste test for yourself... Mmmmm. I especially like the cookie part :D Good call, Leah :) I heart my fellow Goddesses :)

night night.

www.saniehyoga.com

Tags: prana vinyasa flow austin, Lululemon, Goal setting, Yoga Trance Dance, Yoga Vida, Yoga Journal Conference, Dharma Yoga

(Updated Version)Announcement: Sept. Schedule Change

http://saniehyoga.gaia.com — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 04:37:49 GMT

THURSDAY, AUG 20 is the NEW MOON. What are YOUR intentions,new works/offerings, Auspicious beginnings that you wish to send out into the energetic macrocosmic field of consciousness???

Affective next Thursday night (after evening class ending at 715pm to be specific), Aug. 27, I will no longer be teaching with Yoga Yoga studios. I invite you to show your support for those who dedicate themselves to holding the space that is your group, public class container and I encourage you to write, call and email YY asking them why so many of your favorite teachers are not renewing their contracts in September.

My humble thanks, love, gratitude, abundance, light, and so much more to the many who have supported, encouraged and allowed my classes, practice, teaching and person to expand over the last 2 years and 1 month since my return to ATX. I know enough to know that our students are never really "ours" anyway and at some point, if it's now during this transition or 10 yeas from now, we all move forward on our path yet the impression; the "heart print", forever remains.

I have looked forward to seeing your faces, hearing your laughter and even listening to your trash talking (this of course before I lovingly made you regret it :) over the last 2 years but most of all, I've cherished the first moments of connection eye to eye before class and your hugs in the end. My heart bows to the proverbial alter that is YOU ...

My public class schedule is updated (not the workshops... that's coming soon but I WILL be teaching at the big winter Texas Yoga Retreat Nov. 2-4! TBA)  but stay tuned as there may be additions :)...

The closest location to my North Austin student base (and it's pretty close actually) is Dharma Yoga on Guadalupe (exit 45th from Mopac then Right on Guadalupe... or take Burnet to 45th). It's an incredibly beautiful studio space and that I highly encourage you to check it out... my regular class times are 8am tues/thurs and high noon on fridays... there are often additional days that I sub (some coming up in sept/oct) and workshops as well (one coming up Friday Oct 30th...TBA).

**NOTE: Keith at Dharma Yoga will likely be offering the same super sweet discounted class passes again this year promoting FREE DAY OF YOGA. I highly recommend your stopping by. While I don't know the details just yet, last year the promotion went on for about a week before, ending ON FDOY.**

If you are already, Please connect with me via my monthly newsletter (by emailing me at sanieh@saniehyoga.com and include "newsletter" in the subject line) which will keep you "in the know" on class changes and additions as well as workshops and lots of revamping that is currently happening behind the scenes with Sanieh Yoga.

I look forward to see all of your faces this Thursday and next week Tuesday night 6pm, Wed 12 noon, and Thursday 6pm.

lovelovelove,
Sanieh
www.saniehyoga.com

Tags:

Reality Manipulation

http://saniehyoga.gaia.com — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 23:46:13 GMT

Defining what it means for me...

What it means is changing my views and how I see the world and keeping my Attention on the now in presence and my ultimate INtention on where I am headed.

As students of the flow of yoga, we eventually get to a place in our "planning" and even goal setting where we create the vision, work diligently and sometimes discreetly, and in some cases; step right into the fire, only to come out the other side more disciplined, fluid, expansive and fulfilled. We get to this place, in part, by leaving room for the goodness, abundance, and beauty of life to unfold in its most auspicious ways that come to fruition somewhere between our rigid outline----and the space we create by softening into the possible unfolding that we could not have possibly planned for otherwise.

Somewhere along my journey, I have come to trust that the source I bow to the essence of brings just what I need to light and right onto my path and sometimes in the most interesting packages, and / or in ways that I could not have ever written out even with the most spiritually divine-filled pen on the planet.

It's all as it should be and its all changing and evolving and steadily, I find patience in this understanding and silky movement where I was once rigid and with a need to tightly hold on.

When I set out for Bali, I brought with me many intentions that I would begin to cultivate and practice with the intention of clearing and freeing things I was holding onto that I simply didn't want to be carrying... and as the teachers of life would have it, I began the day before I left.

All the time people ask me how often I practice, for how long and when I started. My practice is every day, in every moment that I can sit with myself and find forgiveness, patience, self soothing and my inner warrior/She "wolf". These days, this is the hardest work I ever do... you can run me, take me through any asana class on the planet, put me through "Angie" workout over and over and over and my body may get tired but THIS is the life changing, profound stuff.

You want to change your life? Step into something that scares the shit out of you. Physically, mentally, emotionally and the result is spiritual.

Step right into your fear and CHANGE.
Right here.
Do it.
Now.
I dare you.

sanieh
www.saniehyoga.com

Tags: prana vinyasa flow austin, austin yoga, yoga

I really Heart My Life.

http://saniehyoga.gaia.com — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 12:29:11 GMT

Surf PIC: While there are many pics of more intensity (maybe I'll post more later), the look here on my face shows it all-the entire "bhav" of the unplugged "Sanieh tending to her inner fire" time.. serenity and peace after a sweet ride in from "the green" that you see behind me...just behind a fellow surfer guru who cheers, smiles and supports from behind my tunnel vision after passing him by. What A sweet ride my life is...

Certificate PIC: on the last day, Rip Curl gave me this certificate that I so, so love

Just returned from a Surfing retreat last night after 30 something hours of straight travel...

One thing I know for sure after the last 10 days surfing "INDO" in sacred Bali with 16 Goddesses from all across the planet; and after reviewing photos and video footage of my surf meditation is this:

Life is NOT against me! When we are in the flow and in a place of peace and beauty because of being in uninterrupted flow, there are people who we never even know are there in the background cheering for us, smiling as we cruise on by after the ride of our lives! They may even be silently,secretly, or very LOUDLY jumping in our very joy that we have created for ourselves when we stop going against our own grain; our very essence.

Thank you, Bali, Indonesia. Thank you, Mother Ocean. Thank you to the many who have touched me along the way.

Love,
Sanieh
www.saniehyoga.com
www.twitter.com/saniehyoga

Tags: surfing and yoga, austin yoga, prana vinyasa flow trasnformational yoga

Sept. Schedule Changes, "Pray, Love, ...?", and Peace OUT!

http://saniehyoga.gaia.com — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 04:12:44 GMT

(Pics: I Found these two photos online from taken in Bali, Indonesia - so beautiful...can't wait...)

It's late Saturday evening and as soon as I finish up here, I'm headed to bed so that I can get an early rise before I teach my final two classes (classes i'm subbing that is) Sunday morning at Dharma Yoga before leaving. In an effort to not crash my inbox and blackberry while everything is powered off and peacefully unplugged, please hold all emails until after my return on Aug 1. After these two classes tomorrow morning, consider me checked out and on Vacation until the 4th, when I return to my regular teaching schedule. :)

SCHEDULE CHANGES AS OF SEPT.1

I wanted to give a heads up on some schedule changes that will come into affect as of Sept. 1

It's an interesting place to be with so much change going on that I'm sure will pick up momentum once I return from a well deserved RR-inspired vacation. There are already some pretty big creative projects that I mentioned in my last entry that are about to be placed on the quantum grill as I develop more trust each day in the direction my life has me going, I trust more will present itself than what currently meets the 3rd eye.

I've spent a lot of time living up north (that would be every time I've lived in Austin) and since my return in 07, a lot of time *teaching* in North Austin as well. I've actually turned down many opportunities in the teaching world of ATX in an effort to minimize drive time, traffic, schedule havoc, thus exhaustion. I'm excited to be moving to the "04" downtown area at the end of Aug and as a result, in additional to a number of other factors, there will be several changes to my public class schedule as a result. Keep reading though... While they require your ability to adapt to *change*, there are options should you choose to explore together on the journey further.

As of September 1 schedule, my updated schedule will be as follows (specifics such as detailed times will be posted to my schedule/website page and in my newsletter *email sanieh@saniehyoga.com if you wish to be included* mid Aug sometime) ***note, best to not create confusion with class titles for each studio location such as vinyasa, hatha, mixed level, etc., you all know what kind of practice to expect with me as far as style at this point**:

Monday: (new teaching day/location added): Monday evening (time pending) at Pure Austin Town Lake

Tuesday: 8am Dharma Yoga, 10am Pure Austin Town Lake (new time/location), 4pm Bodhi Yoga Central (New time/location)

Wed: 12 noon Yoga Yoga South (New location), 430 Yoga Vida 707

Thursday: 8am Dharma Yoga, 4pm Bodhi Yoga Central (new time/new location)

Friday: 12 noon Dharma Yoga

I thought long and hard about the classes that I would be "letting go" of and it's always bitter sweet. I have spent a lot of time first creating then building those classes and being witness to YOUR growth continues to be the most beautiful kind of inspiration. Some of you have been practicing with me for 2 years now, consistently. I am not without gratitude for your trust, dedication to both your studies with me AND your personal practice, and for your consistent and steady love and support.

So if you have been practicing with me at YY North West or Pure Austin Quarry Lake, I'd like to put out there as I have done so before, a few options. The BEAUTIFUL new Dharma Yoga http space on Guadalupe next to Jade Leaves near Wheatsville Co-Op is your closest option and just about 5 or 6 exits South on Mopac from the YYNW studio (exit 45th). I live near YYNW currently and leave my home at 715am WITH traffic and make it to the studio by 7:40 am every time (you just have to work out which frontage roads work best for you etc).

There are new student rate specials, as well as "student" rates. Also, last year during "free day of yoga" festivities, Keith graciously offered incredible discounts and specials on class passes of all kinds. I share this so that you know I am still reasonably close to the current location you are *use* to...only the times are mornings (hello? FanTASTIC time to start your day!) and nooner has shifted to Fridays rather than Wed for YYNW people and Tues/Thurs for Pure Austin folks.

For my friends South who have petitioned and picketed (joke) for me to teach "that way"... the time is coming :) at YYS, Yoga Vida 707, Pure Austin TL, and Bodhi Yoga.

OH- I should add that while there is certainly "random" musings in the spirit that IS twitter, know that it is on www.twitter.com/saniehyoga that I post last minute/day to day/"play by play" schedule changes and subbing information.

So there ya have it. I wanted to give some heads up seeing that I've been asked by many of you if there would be changes etc and so that you can decide when and where you wish to continue your practice. Remember this: It's not a *bad thing*. Change that is; it's all changing. If I've taught you nothing else at all as a student myself, of the sacred flow, my prayer is that I have been able to transmit this much.

"Pray, Love, ..." ?

It was never my intention to write my own version of the incredible "Eat, Pray, Love" but it's sure starting to look that way less the "eating" part (for now anyway ;) and in my own order! If you have never read it (you might be one of 3 in the country...) Elizebeth takes us on a journey to Italy (where she eats, a LOT!), India (where she prays, a LOT!), and Indonesia (where she finds love), all in the course of a year. She spends 4 months in each place and in this memoir, we feel her excitement, pain, and reassurance of the Universal between the first and last bead of the mala.

I documented my journey to India earlier this year ( http://saniehyoga.gaia.com/blog/2009/3 ) and it was most definitely an experience that included a whole lot of prayer and bowing to the many forces of Divine energy in my life. Going to Bali in a few days, I am looking at this experience as a time to renew and get reacquainted with a part of myself that might be a little buried underneath the exposures of day to day life. In "Eat, Pray, Love", Liz finds the external love in Indonesia after a difficult divorce and a painful "rebound" that she so struggled to free herself of.

In *this* version, I'm just a woman who wants to reconnect with the lover and Beloved that is ME; inside of my heart; my heart itself. I've kept this beautiful Miribai piece up by my "work space" for a little bit now to serve as a a potent and powerful reminder...

"My love, he is here inside. He does not leave, he doesn't need to arrive."

Love, I'm starting to remember, on the sweetest, deepest level is found within. I owe it to myself to remember all of the many reasons and ways that make me a beautiful and soulful woman, friend, sister, lover, daughter, teacher and BEING...without limitation, separation, confusion, judgment or expectation. Finding Love; in Bali? Indeed.

LoveLoveLove,
sanieh
www.saniehyoga.com

Tags: Bali, Prana Vinyasa Flow, Austin Yoga, World Travel

Nameless

http://saniehyoga.gaia.com — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:08:43 GMT

Pic: My sister and I having some 4th of July fun

I've got a crazy week continued ahead of me. My regular class schedule, 6 classes I'm subbing in total this week and getting packed and ready to leave for Bali next Tuesday morning... oh, I also have a few pieces of loose ends I need to take care of before I leave. Still can't believe I'm going in just over a week! Can't believe I'm going to Bali at all right now!

The way things unfold in my life lately are pretty amazing. I know some people looking in would have to wonder how a yoga teacher is able to make it all happen sometimes. I will share that I strongly believe in the power of putting your energy and intention on the desire, goal, outcome etc. Where ever your energy, that's your prayer. Seriously. If we are always worrying, that's the energy that we put out into Universal consciousness and that's what we align ourselves with. If I'm being honest... this has taken a lot of work and sometimes I fail miserably. I can always see, however, just how much I bring on whatever it is that takes up rent in my head and in my thoughts.

Someone once told me I should focus on what it is that I think I want the money for. By doing so we open up a whole WORLD of possibilities of the *hows*. I realize that this mind and imagination can only take me so far and if I just focus, visualize, and place myself in the experience itself as though I already have "it", *that* is what I align myself with because somewhere, someone(s) or a sequence of something(s) is aligning themselves with the same thoughts and energy and through Universal consciousness, amazing things can come together for us if we allow space for it. On a practical level, I've worked my tail off to live a debt free lifestyle. In a few months, I won't owe anyone a dollar when my car is paid off (several months early I should as-that's another tip!). I share this to give perspective NOT to be a financial advisor or anything- not my field, it's just my own personal experience; not without first experiences LOTS of face planting first.

While I know that some people might read this and roll their eyes or think I'm blowing a bunch of smoke, this has proven to be true time and time again... in *my* world anyway. Just as much as you might want to sit here and tell me its crap, I'd love to sit here and tell you that I am always this way. I am not, but I am sure working on keeping the focus on the desired outcome, result, goal etc and even more so, I'm much more conscientious of the self talk along the way and the messages I send to my subconscious mind because his has proven to work for me...when I work it with conviction that is. "Wishing" and actually being IN the experience to the point of tasting it, smelling it and FEELING it... are 2 entirely different things.

Last week I was planning to go to the new place I will be moving to at the end of Aug with the intention of possibility upgrading to a little bit of a bigger space as to make room for my office. In talking to my friend Fred, he says to me that I should go for it so that I can send a message of flowing abundance. This was said after I shared my excitement to be saving a little on a lower rent I had not anticipated and while the bigger space wasn't any more than what I currently pay, I had simply gotten use to the little extra saving situation the original space would give to me.

I went to the place and later that day I decided to upgrade. Shortly thereafter I got an email from someone wanting to buy my entire remaining inventory of "saniehyoga" shirts and then another email "hiring me" (I never applied!) for 2 months of work to be the expert yoga advisor on a potential yoga project (site, location and details undetermined at this time and pending my return from Bali for further discussion) that will allow for expansive creativity and possibly more world travel in the near future. Between these two pieces of unfolding, I more than make up for any differences financially and furthermore/better yet, creatively, I get to expand.

Does it always unfold like this? For some, maybe. For me, no. Sometimes things unfold in a larger and LOUDER ways, and sometimes a little more subtle. Sometimes they are obvious and sometimes maybe not as much. What's the saying? Oh, yes...

"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change".

I forget who said it but I'm reminded of it when it comes to positivity and living the life that we want to live. I'm still working on it...I tend to be my own biggest critic and as my brother, Bob, once pointed out, I have always had extremely high expectations of myself (which makes for a most harsh critic) so I certainly have a lot more work to do. So far though, I can see well enough to recognize what happens when I can keep focused on my heart's intentions. Bottom line, it does us no good at all to worry and to focus on what we DON'T want. We have got to retrain our minds, our HABITS, to shift in a direction that is inspiring us at the very least.

Amazing things come from a positive mental attitude and shifts of subconscious experience as well. No matter what we think or feel, we are sending messages on a much deeper level than we sometimes take credit for. Every war began with a thought. Every hungry mouth that gets fed began the same way. End Rant. So I was reading this women's surf style magazine for some surf inspiration since it's been a while since I've hit a board (thanks Mike! :) and came to

"7 do's and dont's of a surfergirl"

when one thing in particular stuck this yogini's chord...

"Do pray for safety before each and every session, before your toes even hit the water's edge. Stepping off land- you're entering God's world."

In a recent entry, I had written about the power that Mother Nature's waters have and it's significance to me. In the same breath, in the same wave, She can take your life. She can kill you... yet she can also heal you. I'm reminded that this is the practice; this is the balanced effort that is yoga. This IS the yin and the yang. We need the sunlight to live. All of life does...yet too much sun can take life from us; in more ways than one.

I'm excited to say the least. In talking to a friend, the joke was that if I was flying to Italy instead of Tokyo, I might have had the "Eat Pray Love" thing down (although not sure it "counts" if it was just an Italian airport, but surely I would have found some good Italian none the less). I'm so grateful for the unfolding that has yet again, brought incredible opportunity to my path and I am ready to catch up with myself as I turn off the "conscious teacher" and realign myself, rejuvenate, cleanse, decompress, and get reacquainted with my natural breath and rhythm. There is no telling what awaits me in Indonesia. All I know is that I will be there completely present, completely "awake".

lovelovelove,
sanieh
www.saniehyoga.com
ps- Big schedule change announcements after my return from Bali

Tags: bali, positive energy, law of attraction, sanieh yoga, prana vinyasa flow Austin

Schedule Stuff

http://saniehyoga.gaia.com — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 03:25:23 GMT

I will be subbing the following classes ALL at Dharma Yoga on Guadalupe next week in addition to my regular public class scheudle. If you have never been before, email me for details on first class pass free and discounted class cards/passes :)

Monday July 13th 5 and 7pm
Friday July 17th 930 am
Saturday July 18th 930am
Sunday July 19th 930 and 11 am

--"WHO'S SUBBING?" SCHEDULE while I am in Bali--

sadly, it's not letting me post this little chart I made (...and I also lost a big entry I have worked on for 2 days! Boooo! AND it won't let me add a pic! DOUBLE BOOOO!) so in an effort to not create confusion... if you practice with me at a studio that posts the schedule in advance, your sub should be listed after tomorrow. If not, step into the unexpected with grace, gratitude and trust in the knowledge that SOMEONE will be there to teach my reguarly schedule classes while I am away.

I will be teaching classes through the end of next week but will fly out of the country Tuesday July 21, returning Friday July 31st and will be teaching on Tuesday Aug. 2.

:x
Sanieh
http://www.saniehyoga.com/

Tags:

CORE CULTIVATION! THIS Saturday!

http://saniehyoga.gaia.com — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:28:01 GMT

***Pics: My sweet friend, Randal and I (and my oh so burnt back) at acro play a few weeks ago...***

Saturday July 11th , 9:30-11:30am

One of the most common comments I hear from long time students who have practiced and studied with me and of the evolution of my teaching, even when/if they also regularly attend other classes/traditions of study is "Wow Sanieh, I've gotten so much stronger from your classes!" ... Guys and Dolls alike :)

I adore teaching this as an extended class/workshop (this is the 3rd to date) as the goal for *me* is that everybody leaves with at least one kriya that 'takes them there'!

Only when we can access this part of our strength, heat, sense of self... can we take the leap to the next step!

Details can be found below:

http://saniehyoga.com/classes.htm

Tags: Sanieh Yoga, Prana Vinyasa Flow Austin, Austin Workshops, July Yoga workshops

Beautiful Monday

http://saniehyoga.gaia.com — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:51:32 GMT

(Pic: This is from earlier today... with Coach Crystal (aka: the beautiful Nazi) after conquering the benchmark workout, "Angie" which consists of 100 pulls ups/100 push ups/ 100 sit ups/ 100 deep air squats...in that order, for time. Last time/the first time I did it, I was newer and I thought I was going to die...today, I meditated during the entire thing:)) Feeling strong, feeling strong indeed!

I'm feeling so good today. I've got SO much energy, knocking out my list of errands, feeling gratitude for SO many things... both delightful and even those that aren't so much.

Every 'thing' and every person has its role in my life... there are no exceptions.

Outside of the few main staples of commitments I had this weekend, I got to enjoy some time at Barton Springs which I am so loving! Soon (the end of Aug.) I will be moving to the "04" zip code after years of living north (even after moving away then returning) and I will be a bike ride from the springs... SO excited :)

I'm looking forward the rest of my evening, cranking out this newsletter, starting my "work week" tomorrow morning at Dharma Yoga, of course some personal practice time and then catching up with Leah for a movie after Yoga Vida 707 class Wed., then heading into a July 4th weekend with some family all followed by short and spontaneous trip to Dallas on Sunday. :))

Chris and I will be connecting this week I think to discuss possible dates for a very special yoga workshop that will be happening at the lovely Dharma Yoga soon... stay tuned :)

What else, what else?... getting very close to finalizing my first ever "SaniehYoga" logo with John... very excited... and he's been so helpful, user friendly and patient! Thanks, Johnny :X

BALI!!!!

...is official and all there is left to do is to be present until It's time to go on July 21st! Oh I am subbing a handful of nights and weekend classes the week prior to make up for my absence and will have that schedule (which is in addition to my existing public class schedule) in my newsletter that I am sending out, hopefully tonight. IF you want the scoop on the "play by play" of my yoga world, send me an email sanieh@saniehyoga.com with "newsletter" in the subject line and I'll add you :)

Reminder: Core Cultivaton Pre-Reg (required) is due next Tueday, July 7th!

lovelovelove,
Sanieh
www.saniehyoga.com

Tags: Yoga, Austin Yoga, Prana Vinyasa Flow Austin, Crossfit, Crossfit Central, Bali

New Journeys await us all..

http://saniehyoga.gaia.com — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:33:04 GMT

It's so warm outside, even at almost 10 pm at night time. I have found myself feeling a little tired due to dehydration and have started to remedy that with purchasing another SIGG bottle and have decided I'll get a third and carry two liters with me at all times. Water, it's incredible that keeping my body nourished in this way makes up for so much and the degree of which it keeps me feeling WELL is priceless. Especially in this Texas heat, I need to be better about this!

LOTS of exciting news and changes coming up this summer... I need to get on my newsletter and get it sent out by the 1st! Some I will have to save for a few months until things are solidified with my schedule and others, but the Core Cultivation Workshop in July is a go and I need to prepare to push the notice of the require pre registration since there is a minimum required for it to be held... so don't wait... ( http://saniehyoga.com/classes.htm )

Also, I mentioned this in a "tweet" on my twitter (twitter.com/saniehyoga)... if you are NEW to Dharma Yoga (very close to Yoga Yoga Northwest...it takes me 20 min at 715 am going WITH traffic to get there in the mornings coming from North... the secret is to take the 360 exit and stay on the access road that curves onto Mopac, rather than Mopac itself...then I'm On the access for an exit then merge and 45th is just a few miles away...even when it seems sticky, it moves quickly!) where I teach Tuesday/Thurs 8am and Friday 12noon, your first class is free and you also get a nice discount off of a 5 or 10 class pass. If you have a bit of a financial situation, talk with me about it and we will see what we can do. It's such a lovely lovely Zen space down near the drag and Wheatsville Co-Op... as is the much warmer studio space, if you like a heated experience, that is Yoga Vida 707 where I teach on Wed afternoon at 430... I'm so blessed to be surrounded by such lovely spaces to practice and explore...

I haven't said too much about it since it's not officially in stone until tomorrow (YAY!) but I'm planning to go to Bali in July to spend some time surfing and of course
"yoga-ing" on a Surf Goddess retreat :) I am in desperate need of a cultured, serene, water/ocean-based get away where I can completely I can un-plug, restore and renew. I'm excited but it hasn't become "real" just yet... but even a super long (longer than going to India!) flight to get me there is sounding really really nice... just UNPLUG, reading, writing, collecting myself, letting go, setting new intentions and along the way, immersing myself in a new and celebrated culture, meeting completely new people, and reconnecting with the ocean (and another part of the India Ocean:) and to finally surf again; and to do so a LOT!

With surfing, I think of her (Mother nature) like this...

She'll kick your ass. Seriously. She can hurt me and I know this. So I face her force with respect when I swim out using my strength of upper body, I sit and await her yawn as her pranic swell flow carries me with speed, I use all that I've cultivated with my own power chakra to press/float/fly from prone to squat... all on HER time... and then I rise and ride her in. And sometimes, her force and even her beauty are too much to take and like life, she'll clean everything out from under my feet, to humble me and I crash into her strength never knowing when, where, or how I'll fall, furthermore, when, where, or how I'll rise up again from what may seem like a massive power clean cycle... but she teaches me to surrender; to trust. I actually fantasize about drinking in the fear of HER; her power but perhaps it's, in part, the knowing, that she restores, cleanses, wipes away and renews me to the complete and whole woman I always was even before I ever stepped foot into the initiation that is to receive her.

With all of this I feel the challenge coming on; the other half; the "test" if you will. The nature of the Universe usually works in such a timely fashion in my world. I manifest something and the forces of Universal consciousness as a collective bring it to me and I'm so blessed not FOR this as much as for the RECOGNITION of the works of it all unfolding... YET never is it without a hearty dose of "let me make even your greatest desires challenging to receive...how deeply, Sanieh, can you become present, let go, surrender and trust...?"

I'm working on it...even now, in this precious very moment...

love and sweet dream,
Sanieh
www.saniehyoga.com

Tags: Bali, Core Cultivation, Yoga Workshop Austin July

Grateful.

http://saniehyoga.gaia.com — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:05:41 GMT

Big thanks to everyone who came out to support the big Sizzlin Summer Sampler event at Lululemon... 140 people came out in the heat (note to self-next time, 10am heat is still powerful-aim for earlier start time!) and gave it their all and every single person there experienced a new aspect of athleticism therefore everyone experiencing challenge in different areas per the individual. All of the events were scaled down a bit to best fit the community yet were still incredibly challenging! It was a fantastic and crowded time and I am SO grateful and PROUD to share that yoga had a super large collective representing! The 2 "sweatiest t-shirt" contest winners wre/are student friends of mine as well! YES! Congrats, guys! Humble thanks to you all!

Also huge thanks and love to the participants of the summer Texas Yoga Retreat! We had a lovely time at Barsana Dham Hindu Temple on Saturday and the evening kirtan with my friend, Chris was so incredible and took a life of it's own! So sweet of everyone to share their devotion in the call and response experience!

What this weekend taught me:
*Teaching yoga to 140 people is only slightly different than teach to 30
*A day spent in the sun can nourish my soul in a way that lingers and lingers and lingers *Acknowledging someone Else's beautiful essence feels good in my own heart
*Awakening to the stirring of "something more" within myself lights my entire being
*The things I've judge myself on, I'd never think twice about in another. Its time I cut myself some slack.
*"Someone is waiting to receive your gifts"
*I am in control of what I chose to give free rent" to in the container that is my mind
*Never leave home without sun protection on my person-never know when the Texas rays will feel as though we are sitting on the equator.
*A perfect day comes in many, many forms.

All Love,
Sanieh
www.saniehyoga.com
www.twitter.com/saniehyoga

Tags:

Drum Roll Please...countdown is on

http://saniehyoga.gaia.com — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 03:38:10 GMT

(4 Pics: It's been a HuGe blessing to have a 3 ft x 4 ft promotional pic of me hanging inside Lululemon on the big wall since the store opened late last year...and when I thought they couldn't out do it, they recently blew up another to pretty good size... this time of David, myself and Carey to promote this event... and hung all 3 OUTSIDE the window for passer-byers to see... very cool, especially in person :)

Sunday, June 14th 10am is the big "ROCK YOUR BODY, SHOCK YOUR BODY" event behind Lululemon on 6th and Lamar that I've been planning with Lululemon and 2 other Ambassador friends! GET THERE EARLY (for parking etc)

LULULEMON WILL BE GIVING AWAY 2 complimentary tops to some super sweaty participants in the SWEAT T-SHIRT CONTEST (and if you haven't heard, this is some kick a$$ clothing we are talking about!)

You'll get 20 minutes of Carey's rockin' cross fit, 20 minutes of me and you KNOW I'm gonna serve it to ya;), and 20 minutes of David with what's bound to be some kick butt cardio kick boxing... all back to back. Show us your cross athleticism and we will show you free clothes and free waterloo breakfast tacos with what's expected to be about 150 of Austin's finest and fittest community party people :)

YOGA---I beg of you! Come out and support ME and THIS EVENT. YOU WILL LOVE IT! I KNOWKNOWKNOW Carey and David's people are going to come and they are sure to be LOUD so show one of your favorite yoga teachers (ummm, that would be muah) some love and support...! You can do ANYTHING for 20 minutes...(This is my own personal mantra and self campaign slogan... only I change it to "45 minutes"... true story-more on that later). Nothing to be scared of (now going to an actual Cross Fit class after you have been through their mandatory Elements sessions outside of community events where you learn the movements etc... now that's no joke but it can be done as I do it twice a week... secretly LOVING IT! *still having difficulty walking today due to tabata squatting, sore quad madness; but that's besides the point*) but this... you will be asking when the next event is! Cardio kick box... we ALL have to love some power behind a leg strike! So write it down, bring a friend of 10 win your free Lulu digs and get your waterloo grub on, on Lululemon!

Note: I have printed flyers for this that include Discounted private yoga and Transmission Yoga Programs session handouts there as well as a flyer for the newly scheduled :

CORE CULTIVATION, PART 3
WITH SANIEH
930-11:30 Saturday July 11.
Write it DOWN! It's going to be fierce and with CORE ON FIRE! :D

Where: Shirley McPhail School of Dance- 183 and Spicewood Springs Road-in the southwest corner of the shopping center
Investment: $30.00 PRE REGISTRATION REQUIRED by Tuesday July 7

In this 2 hour yoga class, we will warm the body and prepare to cultivate our core strength through different and innovative means encouraging us th ability to tap into the inner most layer of muscle required to invert and balance our bodies with strength, grace and ease. Bring a towel, your yoga mat, blocks if you have them and hydration! Come prepared, ready and wiling to work...this is NOT going to be your grandma's yoga class!

okay, I've got packing to do for my Venice Beach Weekend... See everyone in Class on Tuesday...

lovelovelove,
Sanieh
www.saniehyoga.com (revamp in progress...with some excellent stuff coming!!!)
www.twitter.com/saniehyoga (for your random 140 Character max Sanieh Yoga thoughts throughout the day...)
(still working on the facebook thing)

Tags: Core Cultivation, Sanieh Yoga, Lululemon, Cross Fit, Cardio Kickbox, Austin

Kerala on the mind

http://saniehyoga.gaia.com — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:55:20 GMT

Two posts in 2 days... movin' on up!

REMEMBER! NEW CLASS: I've ADDED FRIDAY 12-1:15pm STARTING THIS WEEK at Dharma Yoga on Guadalupe in addition to my already existing 8am Tues/Thurs classes... and the new location is BEAU-TI-FUL!

Saturday presented INDIA in my FACE over and over and over again it seemed... it was slightly unbelievable just how much and I couldn't help but stand in the wonder of the message or hint I was suppose to be taking from it...

I was coming home from the Round Rock outlets Sunday evening driving up Parmer when I thought I saw a store called "Gandhi" something so I turned around to check it out. Ends up it's called "Ghandi Bazar" with all kinds of Indian imports from herbs and spices to Ayurvedic products of all sorts and much, much more. I actually found soaps and ointments and creams etc that I either used in Kerala or things that I purchased at the Ayurvedic Pharmacy there. While the prices aren't *as* cheap as they are in India, they are still very inexpensive. Check it out! I thought for sure, Austin had to have an Indian import store... well I found it and it's doesn't disappoint!

I believe I shared the story of the closing beach ceremony of the last day in India where Shiva has us hand out closed, rather "tired" looking, un-opened lotus flowers to everyone (if not, here goes again...:).

I remember her words as she spoke about the path wearing us down at times. She went on to remind everyone that there will be those days where we will all look into the mirror and think to ourselves, "*I'M* a lotus flower? ME?" as we feel tired, busted, un-loved, beat up, used and broken down.

The answer to that is YES... No matter how you may look or feel on the outside or within.

So we all have this tired looking long and skinny closed up un-identifiable lotus in "captivity" of dirty leaves as shes asked us to slowly start to carefully peel back the leaves and petals...

I carried that story and reminder with me for a while and forgot about it. Saturday morning, Stephannie, who attended the experience with us, sent me the photo I took (with her camera) of my hand holding the magnificance that was this blossomed lotus flower just over the Indian sand beore I sent it off into the ocean with a prayer that warm Indian morning.

What I love about this photo is that its so symbolic capturing my inked reminder that it's all changing; nothing will stay the same; I'm not the thought or feelings as they are just visitors, like myself in this body. Nothing is permanent but impermanance and all that matters is this moment... right now... presense.

How will I LIVE today?
How will I love TODAY?
How deeply will I learn to breathe and BE?
What will I do IN THIS MOMENT to leave kisses of the beauty held so deeply in my heart; the lotus flower within, on everything that crosses or walks beside my path?

"Today there is no practice. No doing of practice. No moving, no breathing, and no doing of moving/breathing/ No distinctions or duality. Just breath moving through me. No struggle. No me. Only this one gift of breath, Taking flight."

lovelovelove,
Sanieh
www.saniehyoga.com
www.twitter.com/saniehyoga

Tags: kerala, India, Yoga

Friday

http://saniehyoga.gaia.com — Sat, 30 May 2009 02:23:57 GMT

It's an interesting place to be, being a yoga teacher at times. I believe it's part of what we signed onto when we decided to teach, that we would put ourselves out there sharing intimate parts of our life experiences to make ourselves more touchable, real and authentic.

In this gift, I have found that there are parts of my life that I have to hold close and keep for myself because so much is exposed; by choice; but there always has to be parts that we keep for our own knowing. I don't mean any tangible "thing" or experience necessarily although maybe; sometimes it's more about pulling our energies back in when it's potentially being compromised or abused...or simply when it's time appropriate for any other number of reasons.

It's a juggle though sometimes because I cannot imagine doing what I do without exposing myself to a degree. While people only really know of us what we choose to share with them, To ME, it's the only way the "job" can be done. Although it's seldom, VERY seldom, I was once criticized after a workshop for sharing personal experiences of my life that seem to make a select few uncomfortable. What I have to say about that is this:

Anyone can study or even memorize a book. Anyone can use the jargon and "play the part". That doesn't make it real though. Whatever "it" is. If going out there and sharing the only TRUE thing that we can share as teachers (teachers of *anything* since we are all teachers in one way or another) makes people feel uncomfortable then my suggestion to those people is to take a long hard look into the mirror. We can authentically teach only that which we have experienced ourselves...and even so we have to choose to teach it from the seat of truth. We cannot teach of a journey we have not travelled. The guru reveals itself to us all in many different ways and is seen through life experiences defined by much more than age, race, sex, or anything else. On the other side of exposure, there are boundaries. If drawing boundaries makes people uncomfortable or upset, then the same goes... there's got to be balance and in balance exist boundaries.

This is what I'm referring to when I talk about pulling the energy back in. On one hand, (for just a second albeit), I think to myself "but I'm suppose to give and be open and share the love etc"... but then I come to my senses and say "yes, of COURSE...AND not only do I need to replenish and restore my energies, I need to be aware of when to protect them when I feel as though lines are getting blurred, or space/time constraints maybe aren't being honored or unknowingly disrespected etc."

I actually love to spend time in solitude for this reason. I have no problem being with myself but more so, it's a way for me to refuel and to check in with my own energy...that which began with myself and also the energy that I might have "collected" along the path that I need to drop off. There are probably a few things I enjoy doing with my time that most do not know about me because that's part of what I keep in for myself. I'm going to Venice Beach next weekend for this very reason... it will be the first time I've ever been there without my days being planned for a training or to assist a training. It's decompression and reconnection with source as *I* know it through nature, constant outdoor walking, swimming in the ocean and being in the heart beat of a community that I have no expectation of who has no expectation of me. Escapism? No. Rejuvenation and contemplation? Absolutely.

Moving on...

So here I sit Friday night... 9pm and what a productive days its been! 2 classes done with by 1030 am, drove to the shop and scheduled car repairs (sadly not until an opening was available JULY20th!!!), dropped off a few things for a few people, picked up a few things from a few people/places (gosh, sounds so shady and mysterious like some sort of drug exchange or something...HA!)...

...More like cookies, fresh basil and thyme, skin cream and "regular" non-yoga clothes on sale :) lunch at Galaxy Cafe (SO good!), yoga with my sweet teacher friend Andrew at the beautiful Yoga Vida 707 this afternoon, Lululemon drive by to see new promotional blow up pics they've put up in the window :)), then whole foods for dinner! Gosh, I'm exhausted just writing it all reliving it!

What I *didn't* do that I intended on doing includes but is not limited to breaking down and getting a Costco card, hair trim, Lululemon return, (surely there's more...?)...

Tomorrow night is ladies night out for something wild and crazy like a chick flick ;) I'm pleased to be a passenger on that ride... just awaiting the details :) Tomorrow morning might look like yoga, maybe a run on town lake and if I'm really feeling the gusto, maybe I'll attend the cross fit free community workout as well. We will see how (and when) I feel when I wake up!

Bowing to the blessing of being...on this beautiful Austin evening
All Love,
Sanieh
http://www.saniehyoga.com/

Tags: energy, sanieh yoga, chick flick, boundaries

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