Flowing into Week 2

Paige Elenson, founder and visionary behind the Global Yoga Kula foundation, was my angel and my inspiration during this past weekend. She organized a workshop at Studio K in New Haven, CT with Jessica Kung for the purposes of raising money to create a website for her foundation. Playing with a purpose was our theme!

We co-taught two days of Acroyoga with a group of very inspiring activists... activist in the sense of taking responsibility for themselves and the state of the world around them - how we choose to be the change we wish to see is entirely our own decision. As individuals, we have the freedom to choose our path.

Jessica and Paige served as my mentors for the weekend, warmly inviting me into the greater kula and expressing their support of my growth as an activist. I learned so much from being in their presence during these two days. I left a piece of my heart in New Haven with Jessica and all the lovely people who shared the experience of our workshop. It is the seed of community, planted in fertile soil with the support of nurturing caretakers.

When I think about stepping into the flow, I hold my intentions and visions as the guiding light, and receive the support along the way with trust in the process. It is my experience of trusting in the greater flow and tapping into that abundance that creates a clear reference point from which to guide my decisions.

I came back into the city to attend a class after which I would demonstrate Acroyoga in lieu of the upcoming workshop. The teacher was late, so I began the demo at the beginning of the class instead. The teacher never arrived, and instead, I guided the class in an Acro-style practice. Out of the nine students who showed up for Bindu's class, eight students stayed to share the Acroyoga experience.

I see these experiences as an example of allowing the flow to support me... when I trust in the highest intention, my highest good, the universe responds with abundant support.

I went to Levitate Yoga this morning to audition with 6 other yoga teachers for an opportunity to teach at the studio. It was an organic and spontaneous experience co-created by the 7 of us, and I really enjoyed the opportunity to share in this setting. Afterwards, I spent some time connecting with the people who came to audition, and made some nice connections. One of the women teaches at a yoga and dance studio for women called The Ladybird Center, owned and operated by Amanda of the Kula Yoga Project.

The city is growing smaller by the moment...

Here are a few more worthwhile places to check out -

The Breathing Project - space rentals for workshops, etc.

East West Books - cafe, bookstore, community event space and more...
78 Fifth Avenue @ 14th Street

Blick Art Materials - i come for journals and pens...
15 Bond Street @ Broadway

The First Week Uncovered

It begins among the familiar space and community of the Om Factory... welcoming me back to teach Friday night Acroyoga class. I left on Saturday, after making a quick tour through Williamsburg to visit the site of Chris' future art gallery - still in the works. At the moment, it is a warehouse space sectioned off into large rooms by drywall and plywood... a humble beginning. Every journey begins with the first step!

Over the week, I set up a workshop with Commit 2 Change, a yoga and pilates studio in Morristown... the manager had a lovely presence, and she is very enthusiastic about having me come to teach. I also spoke with a woman who is organizing the Fit Yoga Conference this summer in NYC. They are hosting their first conference, and are thoroughly excited about getting AcroYoga on the schedule. It's an amazing opportunity to get exposure and acknowledgement in the yoga community, and to share the teaching space with some wonderful teachers. So far, we're still in the planning phase... Debbie Kuebler is coordinating the event, and she expressed interest in hosting a workshop at her studio, Elements Yoga, in Darien, CT - Tri-state represent!

After a week in Jersey, decompressing and preparing, I returned the following week to explore new venues at random. The Kula Yoga Project in Tribeca was my first stop and the doors were closed... nonetheless, the kula speaks for itself. Schyler is a friend of Paige's, and she is one of the kula's cheif contributors. Another woman, Amanda, was introduced to me today through a woman who teaches at her studio in Washington Heights. They are guilty of being inspiring and lovely yoginis by association, and I'm looking forward to making a more personal connection with this extension of the family tree.

Naga Yoga, right down the street, was also closed upon my arrival... nothing to report about the studio so far from my contacts. They teach hot yoga and are a relatively new addition to NYC's yoga community.

My 3rd stop was Yoga Mandali - an Anusara studio on Broadway in Soho. My first impression of the studio was warm and inviting. Phil, the owner of the studio, was there to greet me, and had hosted an Acroyoga workshop in the past. We discussed setting up a workshop and reflected on the need for greater connection within the yoga community.

That evening, I taught a rockin' Acroyoga class at the Om Factory, and left feeling a sense of having stepped into a flow.