Hot in Harlem

The Tribeca Film Fest led me to NYC this week. As usual, I was being my directionally-challenged self. Though I was lost more often than not I found my way to Bikram Harlem Yoga.

Back in 09 I travelled to Koh Samui, Thailand to detox and practice yoga at Absolute Sanctuary. Yoga and living a healthful lifestyle were still new to me. I tried many methods of detoxification for the first time, including Bikram yoga. During the first class, I remember thinking I would faint, throw up and fall again. The heat and sweat was overwhelming. I wore grey stretch pants, held my breath and stayed in the room because my ego wouldn't let me leave. I did not feel good after class. I was sure it would be my first and last Bikram class.

Saturday, I flew into LaGuardia and bused it to my friends place in Harlem. After setting my bags down I Googled nearby "Yoga," Bikram Harlem Yoga popped-up. In an effort to be flexible on and off the mat I decided to give Bikram another try and walked to the C train.

During and after this Bikram Yoga session I felt much different from my 1st attempt. Studying and practicing yoga overtime has taught me the significance of hydration, breath awareness and dristi. And so,I took a large bottle of water, focused on my breathing (pranayama) and dristi. My Bikram experience in New York was awesome! Bikram and being flexible is cool.

Peace & Love from Harlem

~Kerrie

Namaste

Namaste: Translated namah=to bow and te=to you. "I bow to you" This greeting is widely used in Indian culture as a show of respect. Palms press together and the thumbs rest on the heart. 

Defining Dharma

Thank you, Uday Desai for introducing Ruby and I to the Bhagavad Gita. We are reading it now. At the start of Chapter 4, Wisdom in Action, dharma is mentioned again. This time it was referred to as the divine law.  I vaguely recalled a similar definition I learned in teacher training: Dharma is the law that upholds, supports or maintains the regulatory order of the universe.In training and after reading the beginning of Chapter 4 I realized my understanding of dharma was not clear . And so, I decided to backtrack through Chapters 1-3 of the Gita and take note of how it describes dharma for clarity.

Page 24:

The law that expresses and maintains the unity of creation.

Page 31:

The word dharma means many things, but its underlying sense is “that which supports,” from the root dhri, to support, hold up, or bear. Generally, dharma implies support from within: the essense of a thing, its virtue, that which makes it what it is.

Page 31-32:

Dharma means the essential order of things, an integrity and harmony in the universe and the affairs of life that cannot be disturbed without courting chaos. Thus it means rightness, justice, goodness, purpose rather than chance.

Page 66: Dharmakshetra?

Page 75 It is the dharma, the moral duty of the soldiers to fight in a good cause, though never for evil leaders.

Page 92, 2:31 Considering your dharma, you should not vacillate. For a warrior, nothing is higher than a war against evil.

Page 112- divine law (dharma)

Page 117. 4:7-8 Whenever dharma declines and the purpose of man is forgotten, I manifest myself on earth. I am born in every age to protect the goal, to destroy evil, and to reestablish dharma.

-Kerrie

Budokon

Attended a beginning Budokan yoga class the other day.  It was intense.  Here is a video to give you an idea of some of the moves. I wish I could say my practice looked like this ;)

Budokon®Yoga Primary Series Demo

Dharma and Greg

A cute episode of Dharma and Greg. :)

Dharma and Greg- Yoga

Dharma

Kerrie recently mentioned to me that she was interested in dharma.  Of course even though I have studied the actual meaning of the word, I can't help but think of Dharma and Greg, not really sure if that has anything to do with this series but it did spur me to start watching random clips on youtube.  

Well...be prepared for some more dharma talk...the philsophy, not the TV show.   If you any thoughts or comments please let us know.

~
Ruby

Spring Schedule

This Spring Yoganic Flow is looking to grow & bloom somewhere new and fresh

in the D! 

 

We are looking around Detroit for Pop-up shops and spots to hold classes. As you can see in the picture below Kerrie will teach anywhere!  She's downtown Detroit teaching a Sun Salutation, Surya Namaskara A to a curious Detroit man on Adams & Woodward.

Until we find a cool yoga space you can always call (313) 655-YOGA 

to book a Hip-Hop Yoga Workshop 

or 60-minute Private Yoga Lesson at your office or residence. 

You are also invited to 

Practice Slow Burn Yoga with Kerrie 

Every Friday morning at 

5:30 am in Studio 2 at 

Lifetime Fitness in Canton 

1700 N. Haggerty 

Canton, MI