Yoga at Home: Book Presentation/Demo & and Slo' Mo is a Way to Go!

I gave my first book presentation/signing and beginners yoga demo last night at the beautiful Sante Wellness Center in Silver Spring, MD.  Although my book and my talk were designed for yoga newbies, ALL the attendees in the small group that came had been attending yoga classes for some time.

Aaah, I felt somewhat intimidated!  What was I going to share with this group of experienced women and one man? Professional yoga instructor I am not.  I am a self-taught yogi who began yoga at age 15...so many decades ago. (Please do not ask how many decades!) And I do  SLOW, gentle and basic yoga...probably the type that many athletes might sneer at and that yogis who do heavy duty power yoga or vinyasa yoga might find soporific or beneath them.

Nevertheless, after a split second, I remembered that I was there to share my wonderful experiences with slow, gentle yoga and the benefits I have gained, especially of increased energy during the past five years after I really started to put my heart into my practice.  Insecurities begone!

I shared my story and the event participants discussed their personal experiences with yoga. After taking off my shoes, because you should practice yoga barefoot ((horror of horrors...I hate revealing my unsightly bunions that make my feet look deformed!), I  demonstrated some of the key poses that I do daily and that I present in the book.  I emphasized the need for taking baby steps, never pushing onself to the point of pain, pausing between the poses, synchronizing one's breath with the movements, customizing your practice, creating delightful rituals to enhance one's yoga practice, and ESPECIALLY moving SLOWLY as if in a dream, being conscious of one's body and sensations, and putting one's heart into the practice.  And, of course, I emphasized the value of a home practice.

Guess what?  The participants enjoyed the poses and appreciated the slow movements! They did not get bored as I feared!  So, I am not so weird after all in getting back to what I consider are the the basics and essence of yoga - slow, scientific movements down with careful attention.  When done this way, yoga causes your energy to soar!  And, you don't become injured or sore!

Slo' mo is the way to go,

 

Laura Venecia Rodriguez 

 

Comments

[Tina]

Good for you!

Many yoga venues are not so open-minded—it isn't a question totally of whether they specialize in fast paced practices such as vinyasa or power yoga or not. Many yoga studios stick with only one or two yoga lineages (yoga pedigree, if you will) and may not take to much of the old-school yoga-influenced workshop leaders. Unless, they too, studied with Sivananda or Indra Devi or anyone popular with generations back ...

Also, a yoga school with a more therapeutic focus also would welcome your workshops ...

[Laura Rodriguez]

Thanks, Tina for your insights! I guess I am really old-school!

Laura