The Yoga Year In Review!

Happy New Year!

It was a great year yoga for me. Looking back it's hard to believe all the things I did. There is a lot to say, but I 'll keep it brief.

January
I jumped off the year teaching at Shambhala Yoga & Dance Center and I became an official teacher at Hip Dhamma. I stayed at Shambhala for a couple of months, but Hip Dhamma became my yoga home for the year.  Big shout to Rachel for making that happen and giving my first official yoga job.

February
I attuned my fourth student to Reiki Level I. Congrats to my girl Po-Hong!

This month I started teaching for the little people at Little Sun People daycare in my neighborhood with my girl Desiree. I was a little nervous, but I immediately said yes to the idea.  The kids were amazing and they really surprised me every week with what they remembered and how much they enjoyed it.  That was a wonderful experience that took me through June. [LSP Blog : http://bit.ly/1m5rYm6]

May
This month Po-Hong and I hosted the first of three blaKbüshe Wellness Days for the year.  It was a great success and we had a lot of fun!

July
My friend Monique teaches yoga at Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City in the summer time. She was a way for a few weeks on an artists retreat and asked if I could cover her classes. I said yes of course and that was also a wonderful time. The park is right on the water, which was a blessing on those two hot Saturdays that I taught.  I biked from Brooklyn to Queens those days. It was a trek and one week I nearly melted on my bike, but I would do it all again!

September
On the Fall Equinox I hosted my second and final blaKbüshe Wellness Day of the year.  I am so thankful to Julie Brown and Dayanara Marte who came out to speak to the people and all the practitioners who volunteered their time and gave the gift of healing.  I also want to thank Freebrook Spaces for opening their space to me.  We will be doing more wellness days in 2014.  Stay Tuned!

October
I had an idea so I ran with it. Yoga for Unlocking Your Inner Creative. I put together a daytime yoga workshop and evening show in Philly at my girl Malika's Soft Illusions fine Art Gallery.   I shared an bill with my girl M'Balia and it was an all around amazing weekend.  I can't wait to bring the workshop back to that city.  It was a big push and not without its minor snags, but all in all everything from the weekend was well received.  Looking forward to the next one!

November
I was offered a position to teach yoga with the NYC Parks and Recreation Department at St. John's Recreation Center in Brooklyn! I just started and it's going well!

December
As I closed out the year so did Hip Dhamma.  As I said before, I am so thankful to Rachel for giving me a place to teach and practice this year.  Although Hip Dhamma is gone form 375 Stuyvesant I don't think it's over. I'm sure we will see Hip Dhamma in another incarnation very soon.

I also attuned my 5th student to Reiki Level I. Congratulations Peta-Gaye! 


2014
As I stated above I was offered a position to teach yoga for the Parks Department, which began on Jan. 5th. I'm really excited to see where this leads and the best part is that it's right down the street from my house! I will be there Sunday-Wednesday and I will leave all the times below. You must be a member of the gym to come to class, but the prices are the best in town. A One Year Membership is $150 and 6-months is $75

I am also going to begin teaching at Third Root Community Health Center in Flatbush/Ditmas Park beginning January 15th.  I will be teaching Every Wednesday Morning at 11:15am-12:30pm. More details below.

Finally I am excited to be offering Private Yoga called Yoga for Unlocking Your Inner Creative based on my October workshop.  The practice is designed specifically for creatives who are facing blocks or those how would like to reignite their creative passions.  If you or someone you know are interested in private yoga please email me for pricing and availability.  I am also open to working with other specific needs. Please inquire.

Happy New Year Everyone!  It's going to be a great 2014!

Jai!


St. John's Recreation Center
1251 Prospect Place b/w Troy & Schenectady
Brooklyn, NY
Open/Beginner Level Classes (all classes 1 hour):
Sunday & Monday 10am
Tuesday 6:15pm
Wednesday 7pm
Fore more information:
http://on.nyc.gov/1m0xcCz

Third Root Community Health Center
380 Marlborough Road
Brooklyn, NY
Open Level Class:
Wednesday 11:15am-12:30pm
By Donation
www.thirdroot.org

Yoga For Unlocking Your Inner Creative 
Private Yoga Pricing & Availability
Please contact me at sovereignhands@yahoo.com

The Accidental Private

I started teaching class on Tuesday nights at Hip Dhamma because the usual teacher had a conflict.  I didn't and honestly still don't know how long that class slot is going to last for me, but for now I'm enjoying every moment of it.

Last Tuesday was a slow night. I got to class early, set up the room and then came back down, sat and talked to Jasmine the Hip Dhamma office manager and waited for students to show up.  I think I might have told you in the past that Hip Dhamma is located at Freebrook mansion, which is a great space that holds many events and they even tape Boardwalk Empire there from time to time. So the class where we teach is up a grand staircase on the 2nd floor.

As I sat and talked to Jasmine the time slid by and next thing we knew it was 7:15pm and class is supposed to start at 7pm.  From that we gathered that no one would show up that day.  I was getting ready to go gather my things when a familiar face walked through the door. It was Felicia (Not her real name. Honoring her privacy.).  She told me she was going to come to class and she was true to her word, which I love! At first she wasn't sure about staying for class since she was the only one, but I feel like if you came all this way, let's have class.

After changing her clothes, Felicia made it up to class. She was not totally new to yoga, but had not taken many classes at all. Felicia told me that the other classes she took were really not the best for her so it wasn't very enjoyable, but she wanted to try again.  That really made me excited. Here was a chance to really change someones mind about yoga and possibly reintroduce them to the practice.

Since it was just Felicia and I, I modified the class. I took her through some pratapana (warm ups) and at that point I could tell that I was going to have to slow the class down and make sure that she got exactly the attention that she needed. I had a whole plan and was going through all kinds of poses, but I knew that may or may not happen that night.

For the next 30-40 minutes we made it through Downward Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana), low lunge and Warrior 1 (Virabhadrasana Eka). Then we closed moving through Staff pose (Dandasanana) to seated forward fold (Paschimottanasa).  Then we ended with savasana.

Taking time to move Felicia through the poses was so great! When teaching class although I take my time, it's also often about getting through the plan. This time I really just let the plan go and it became intuitive.  I have sort of been waiting for that moment in a way. I usually write down my plan for class and I keep it in a book beside me. Sometimes I look at it and sometimes I don't, but that day I just closed it and I because mindful of my students needs and worked from there.

After class Felicia said she loved it!  It has renewed her faith in yoga and she was going to bring a friend next week! It was really a great class and I'm so thankful for that chance happening.

I can't wait to see you all at class. Now you know that even if you are the only one there, it's going to be an amazing time.

Jai!

Flow.

Over the years I have practiced many types of yoga. My very first yoga class was at Integral Yoga on 13th street in Manhattan.  It was a great place to start because they have a designated Brand New Beginners class.  So there is no worry about looking crazy your first time because it's everyone's first time. It's a class full of virgins so to speak.

I practiced there for while until I joined a gym in Brooklyn near my house called the Training Academy. It was on Waverly Avenue, owned by a black woman named Laura Gorriaran-Goodwin,  and it had a boxing ring. I have to admit, that's why I really joined the gym. As many of you know I am a Sporty Spice so to stand inside of a regulation size boxing ring was like going to sporty heaven for me. So I joined and started taking kickboxing!  

Just before I joined this gym, I had been going to another in Brooklyn that shall remain nameless.  I took a couple of yoga classes there, but they were pretty bad, especially after going to Integral. I thought I would never take yoga at a gym again, but when I joined the Training Academy, something told me to give yoga one more try.  

Now two major things happened while at this new gym.  I realized that I had a shoulder injury. Something I had suffered at the other gym, but to this day I don't know exactly how it happened.  The other thing is that I found out I had a hiatal hernia.  I tell you folks, the wheel doesn't stop turning. But let's get back to yoga. 

At the Training Academy I started taking Kundalini and Iyengar yoga. Talk about two different styles, but I really loved them both and I had two amazing teachers.  Simran taught Kundalini and Debra taught Iyengar.  I feel so blessed to have met these women because this is the time in my life where I feel that yoga saved my life.  

When I learned that I had the hernia, the doctor tried to put me on meds indefinitely. Without getting into too much detail I'll just say that the breathing in Kundalini made it so I never had to take one pill.  Then later when I had my shoulder injury, it was the Iyengar that helped me ease back into practice and have proper alignment so I wouldn't hurt myself again.  

As time went on and yoga became more and more popular in NYC I found myself in a ton of vinyasa classes. Everywhere I went it was just vinyasa. I enjoyed them for sure, but I felt something was missing.  As time went on I got lucky again and found some new amazing teachers at a studio called Area Yoga.  First was Tina, then Keely and Shira.  I put myself on a 30 day yoga challenge and they were amazing. They really restored my love of yoga and Keely was the first to encourage me to think about teacher training.

Fast forward to teacher training.  I almost went to Laughing Lotus, but the Goddess saw fit to send me to Kripalu.  I am so thankful for that, but the emphasis at Kripalu is not on flow or at least not a vinyasa style of flow as I knew it. At first I thought I might miss the flow, but while training and then after when I starting teaching classes, I have really grown to love a slower paced, breath and posture focused practice. So that is what I have been teaching, but last Tuesday (3/26) I decided to sub for one of my fellow teachers at Hip Dhamma.

I wasn't sure what style of class she taught, but I soon learned that her class is vinyasa.  I knew I could do it, but up to this point I had never taught that style of class.  So before heading to the studio, I got on my mat and home and mapped it out. It all came back so fast, but I wanted to also make sure I wasn't losing the Kripalu philosophy in it all.  I know how it is when you are a sub in any kind of class. You really have to show and prove because often times people who come to class are coming to practice with "their" teacher.  You all know what I mean.  Well...here goes nothing.

I got to class and met Mack.  He is one of our new karmis at the studio so he set up and the room and he informed me that he was also going to take the class with me. Then slowly people started coming in.  Soon Chris, who I hadn't seen in a while, shows up.  Also I had a woman in class who had never taken yoga before.  Now I really knew I had my work cut out for me. I just assumed that most of the people there would have at least taken yoga before. I guess you know what they say happens when you assume.  LOL.

I opened class as I usually do. Pretty slowly, was a little talk and some breath work. Then we turned up the heat.  Even though I have pretty good yoga language, moving faster I really had to be super mindful and keep an eye on my newbie.  Tough!  Usually when I teach class I do all the moves or as many as I can with the students, but this time I really couldn't. I had to do some and then really keep an eye out. At the close of every class, while the students are in savasana, I give them Reiki. There were 7 people in the class so I took time and  I made sure I sent energy to everyone.  I wasn't sure how people felt about the class at that point, but at least I knew that the folks would be feeling good after their shot of Reiki. LOL

When class was over many if not all of the students told me that they really enjoyed the class.  I was so thankful.  At some points I really didn't know how it was all going to turn out.  A couple of students wanted to know what time I teach on Sundays so they can come!  That was really great.   Since graduation, every time I am asked to teach and I know it’s something that I have not done before, I say yes.  That is what we were taught at Kripalu and so far saying yes has really worked out wonderfully.

So, In the spirit of Kripalu, I declare that  I am a vinyasa teacher! Yes! Give Thanks!

Thank You Series ~ Class 3: Happy New Year!

Hey Everyone!

I know the last class of my Thank You Series was a long time ago. About three or so weeks ago really, but the end of the year just flew by. I don't know what happened.  So I'm going to wrap up blogging about the series and move on to 2013 and all the is ahead so far.

Let me just say that my last Thank You class was as amazing as the first.  I'm so glad I did this because I feel it was such a great way to start teaching.  Maybe because I set it up myself I felt really comfortable. There was a little pressure, but not a much as I thought it would be. Let me be clear and say that all the pressure was coming from me not anyone else.

For the last Thank You class I had 5 students.  Tiffany, Erica and Bianca came back, which was great and Bianca brought her friend Whitney.  Dumeha snuck in almost at the end, but I give her an A for effort because we were both hanging out together the night before. LOL.

I asked people to dedicate the last class to someone who has supported them when no one else would.  I was really thinking about all of you who supported me though the yoga school process and who are still in my corner. Some people who supported me I never even met before.  The whole process from start to finish was such a blessing. It mean so much more than words can say. Here I am on the other side of it all.  Sometimes it feels like a dream.

My last Thank You class was on a Sunday, December 16th, but Tanya from Hip Dhamma asked me if I could sub a class the following Tuesday.  I also had a show on Wednesday. So the week leading up to the holidays was packed.

The Tuesday class was very small. It was almost a private with me and Chris who had come to my Thank You series the second week. We began class and then Tanya snuck in.  So it was really nice and easy class. At the end I always give a little Reiki and both Chris and Tanya said it was amazing for them. Tanya had a headache that wouldn't go away all day, but when I gave her Reiki it dissipated. Nice!

So that was my last class of the year.  Hip Dhamma has me on their schedule as a sub and we are in the works to find me a more permanent time slot. So I'll keep you posted on that front.

Well it is 2013 and there is lots on the horizon!  To kick off the year I will be teaching every Monday afternoon for the next two months at Shambhala Yoga and Dance Center! I'm really excited about that. It's a "by donation" class so if you are in the area please pop by. I'll leave all the info below.

I'm on the sub list at Hip Dhamma and Area Yoga. So when I know I'm teaching, you will know I'm teaching.  I am also planning a few workshops. I'm not going to give the concept away, but I will tell you that I'm super excited! Big reveal coming soon.

I'm going to keep this one short because I know it's going to be a packed year of yoga and music for me.  I'm really excited about all that is on the horizon. Thank you again for all your love and support!

Fulfill your dreams! It's 2013!

Jai Bhagwan!


Where I'm Teaching!!!
Beginning Monday January 7th (Every Monday)
Shambhala Yoga & Dance Center
367 St. Marks Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11238
Blossoming Hour
1:45-2:45pm
Fee: By Donation
www.shambhalayogadance.com
See You There!

More Classes, Workshops & Specials to Come!  

The Thank You Series ~ Class 2: Amazed!

What a difference a week makes. I’m talking about the number and diversity of the people who showed up for class this past Sunday. Of course once again in my excitement I forgot to take a photo of everyone so I’ll have to paint you a picture one more time. But before I do that I want to back up a bit.

For Sunday’s class I wasn’t as last minute in planning as usual. It was still a Saturday night planning session, but at least it wasn’t midnight. I also wasn’t as nervous as I had been the prior week, but I was still feeling some butterflies. I guess it’s just like in yoga teacher training (YTT). The first week is killer on the psyche. I mean you have no idea how it’s all going to go. Our teachers told us, “If you don’t make some mistakes in the first practice teach then you fail.” LOL. Of course not really, but the point is that we were learning. So this week of class was much like week two of practice teach. I felt more confident, but I was still nervous.

As you know, these are my Thank You classes to folks who donated toward me getting to YTT. A woman named Kathryn donated to my fundraiser, but she emailed and said she couldn’t make it to Brooklyn for class because she lives in Dobbs Ferry, NY, which is about an hour or so away in the Hudson Valley. So she asked me if she could transfer her comp to her friend Pat who happens to live around the corner from where I’m teaching. Of course the answer was yes and with that I knew I had one student for Sunday. Also my friend Stephanie told me she was coming so that was two, both of whom had a free class. I emailed Pat to let her know she was all set, and she told me she was bringing a few folks. Nice! Then Rachel of Hip Dhamma said she emailed her list to tell them about my class as well. Since you never know how things will do, I was sticking to my two people for sure. This is New York and people are known to change their plans on the fly.

When I arrived at Freebrook on Sunday there were just a few things to straighten up and then I would be good to go. My friend Desiree came by with her two sons to wish me luck before class, which was great! Then before I knew it people were showing up for class.

I think Chris was first. Yeah, one man in class! He came because of the email that Hip Dhamma sent out. Then Pat showed up with one of her friends. She thought it would just be the two of them, but then two more of her friends came through the door.

Now let me tell you about Pat and friends. These are grown folks if you get what I’m saying. I have no idea how old they really were and they all look amazing, but these ladies could have been grandmothers and I loved it! They had great energy and it was an honor to teach them on Sunday. So that made 5 people in class up from 2 the week before. Then I got my third surprise, Ganessa came! Ganessa is my friend and bassist in my band. Turns out that was her first yoga class and she loved it! That really meant a lot of me because I think a persons first yoga class is so important. I think that will dictate if they go back again.

For my series I have to wear all the hats. So I’m taking money, checking my comp list, setting up the room so there is enough space fore everyone and trying to center myself as well. As we started to settle in, the people kept coming. Next came Tiffany, then Stephanie, then Maria, then Bianca and then Erica! I couldn’t believe it. The room was packed. If anyone else had come I would have had to turn them away. Now that’s crazy.  I had a feeling this might happen, but not till the final week. I was a bit overwhelmed looking out at all the faces, but it was also an overwhelming feeling of joy.

As I mentioned, this was week 2 of my Thank You Series. So the focus was on giving thanks for your body. So often we say such mean things to ourselves about our body. Sometimes it’s so subtle that we are not mindful of the negative self talk at all. Then we wonder why our body fails us. Think about it.  So the class was all about giving thanks even for those parts that give us aches and pains and to breathe some good energy into those places.  This time I made a class plan that was that was the correct amount of time. Actually it was probably just a minute or so long. So next week my goal is to be right no time.

When class ended, my students applauded! Now that was wild. They were not all people that I knew so that was totally unexpected. I’m surely not teaching yoga for the roar of the crowd. That’s why I make music and get on stage to perform it. Teaching yoga, doing Reiki, and healing in general is such a deep calling for me. Music and art is right in there, but hands on touch and moving meditation is the tops.
After class some of the students came up to talk to me, and folks wanted to sign my mailing list. I am so thankful. So, so thankful.

The picture that I really want you to see when you close your eyes and think about this class is the colors, shapes, genders and sizes of the people who came. So often when people think about yoga the picture that comes their minds eye is that of a young, skinny or very fit, white woman in a very small and sometimes expensive yoga outfit. Well I’m here to tell you that yogis come in all shapes, sizes, colors and genders. Some people think that black people don’t do yoga, but yes we do! Ninety-eight percent of my class was people of color. Yes that does have something to do with the neighborhood, but they came. Also I had grown folks in my class and one man, which no matter what color is wonderful. I would love to see more men in yoga. The sizes of people probably ranged from size 6 to 16. It was just beautiful. Also people levels varied greatly, but I offered props and assistance and we had a great time.

I know I should stop sounding like I’m in such shock, but a little over a month ago I couldn’t do any of this. Now, I’m a yoga teacher.

Jai Bhagwan!


Sovereign Hands Yoga: The Thank You Series
@ Freebrook Spaces in Association with Hip Dhamma
375 Stuyvesant Avenue b/w Decatur & Bainbridge Sts.
Brooklyn, NY
Sunday December, 16th (Last Class of Series)
$10
11am-12:10pm
[If you have a mat please bring it with you. If not, there are a few mats for use.]
By Train: A/C to Utica Avenue

Contact, More info & Talk to Me
sovereignhands@yahoo.com
www.facebook.com/sovereignhands
Twitter @sovereignhands

Check out Hip Dhamma Too!!

The Thank You Series ~ Class 1

I went to bed late on Saturday and got up early on Sunday. Class wasn't until 11am, but I was probably up at about 7:30am after going to bed at about 1:45am. I was nervous. Although yoga teacher training wasn't that long ago, sometimes it feels like eons. My folks in my YTT sangha have moved on and although we keep in touch on Facebook it's surely not the same as waking up to their faces daily. I'm still adjusting.

Sunday morning I got up and went through my whole class by myself. I went through the whole hour and change in hope of being clearer with whomever was going to show up that day. I had no idea and no expectations. I'm working hard not to bring my same thought patterns to the yoga side of my life that I sometimes bring to music side, which is, everyone says yes and then no one shows up. I know that sounds strange so say if you have been to one of my shows because people do show up. They show up all the time, but I have to admit the fear that sits down under the surface that no one will show. But today I knew that one person would show and that was Rachel from Hip Dhamma. We had been talking about me coming on teach at the studio. So she was coming so I could "audition." No pressure. Right!!

As it got closer to the time to head to Freebrook Spaces where my classes are being held I did my best to calm down. I had no idea what I was going to walk in to. I mean of course I had some idea, but this was really new territory. I kept thinking about what my teacher Devarshi would say, "If your heart is pounding then you must raise your hand and say something." My heart was surely pounding and teaching the class was like raising my hand. I was saying yes.

One of the best things about teaching at Freebrook is that it's right near my house so I can walk there. It was such a great feeling to be able to take that walk and have a moment to meditate and settle down a bit before I got there. I realized on my walk that I forgot a couple of things like sage to clear the space and my comp list. As you know, these are my Thank You classes. So some folks are getting class for free, some for $5 and anyone else who just drops in it's $10. It's ok. Breathe Shelley. No worries.

When I arrived at the school (Freebrook is a school during the week) DeeArah, who helped me book the space, was there cleaning up a bit. Let me tell you a bit about Freebrook. It was once somebody’s mansion so the place is huge and grand. They actually filmed Boardwalk Empire there a couple of times. Surely there are still some spirits up in there. As you enter the front door and walk into the foyer it is all dark wood; the walls, floors and the staircase. There are two big rooms on the ground floor and also a kitchen and some other smaller rooms. Then on the second floor there are more rooms, nooks and crannies that I have yet to explore. My class is in one of the smaller rooms at the top of right staircase. Yes the staircase splits in two. I told you it was majestic.

I really like the room on the second floor. There is lots of sun and it’s cozy. DeeArah gave me the lay of the land a bit and then I tried to get myself situated.

 Soon Rachel arrived. She is one of the women who run Hip Dhamma, the yoga studio that usually runs out of Freebrook. She was kind enough to let me use her props for class, which was a blessing. I can see that the Hip Dhamma crew are really about community building and I love that it is through movement. Luckily when she came she had some sage with her so I was able to smudge the room. We talked for a while and then she went to take care of some other business before class.

I had a feeling that it might just be Rachel and I that day, but just before class was about to begin my friend Calia showed up. Yeah! I was more than ready to teach one, but two was great! I showed Calia upstairs and then we began pretty much right away. I wasn’t sure what happened to Rachel, but she showed up right after the sound of OM.

Did I say I was nervous? I know I was in my head a lot in class. There were things that I should have said before taking people into certain postures and I talked about a couple of contraindications after we had already done a pose, which doesn’t help at that point, but I know the nerves will wear off after a while. I’m still getting my feet on the ground after all.

For this first week of the series since it is on giving thanks, I asked the class to focus on their breath and give thanks for the in breath and out breath. In short, give thanks for every moment. As I moved through teaching my first class outside of school I really missed the faces of my sangha. We got so much reinforcement from each other while in school, but out here you never know what you will get. Well, I was moving along quite nicely when I looked at the time and realized that I still had a lot left and I had done everything I planned! OK, time to think on my toes. I had to go through my mental Rolodex of asanas and pull something out of the sky. Of course it all worked out and as my YTT crew would say, nobody died. LOL!

I guess I did well at my audition because I got a call back to teach at Hip Dhamma and Calia said she had a great time and really enjoyed the breath work. I think the breath is most important in yoga. A lot of studios don’t focus on that a lot, but you can’t do anything if you don’t have your breath and we take it for granted daily, really almost every moment. Remember your breath. If you think about it, it’s really what’s holding you together.

After class I chatted with DeeArah for a bit and talked some about my future classes. I made $10 that day. I decided in the spirit of it being Sunday and in the spirit of really taking this on as a business I paid myself first aka I made a tithe to myself. I put $1 or 10% of my earnings in my savings account. I know it may not seem like much, but how often do we not take care of ourselves first especially on the financial front.

I should have taken photo of Rachel, Calia and I, but I was totally buzzing. I will have a photo of the next folks to come to class, which is this Sunday at 11am. I hope to see some of you there.

My yoga practice has taught me so much, but I am still walking hard with my niyama of Ishvar-Pranidhana. Surrender. Surrender to what the Universe has for me. Be open and say yes. Thank you all so much for saying yes to me.

Jai Bhagwan!

Sovereign Hands Yoga: The Thank You Series 
@ Freebrook Spaces 
375 Stuyvesant Avenue b/w Decatur & Bainbridge Sts.
Brooklyn, NY
Sundays Dec. 9th & 16th 
$10
11am-12:10pm 
[If you have a mat please bring it with you. If not, there are a few mats for use.]
By Train: A/C to Utica Avenue

Contact, More info & Talk to Me 
sovereignhands@yahoo.com
www.facebook.com/sovereignhands
Twitter @sovereignhands
Check out Hip Dhamma Too!!