The Gold I Gleaned from Wanderlust

The Wanderlust Festival this year was nothing short of incredible. Not only was this festival an opportunity to practice yoga and hear great music, but also it was a chance to collect valuable information from top-notch Yoga teachers around the world and get exposed to yoga modalities I had never tried before.

I think the most important thing that I took away from my Wanderlust experience this year was the importance of being Authentic.  Yoga becomes an expression of who we are as students, teachers and human beings.  The practice is beautiful, ancient and revered. Also, it is a highly creative and expressive art, science and philosophy.  It draws people out of their shell, breaks them down into little pieces and builds them back up into the most powerful expression of Divine love they can be.

We are all unique and it is that uniqueness that develops the Yoga that we teach or practice.  Students will follow whatever expressions they resonate with on a vibrational level and all forms of Yoga are awesome for this reason.

After 12 classes in just four days, I extracted a ton of great ideas and information from the workshops that will improve my practice and my teaching.  Below are some nuggets of information that I wish to pass along from some of my classes.

Rod Stryker
I was fortunate to be able to take three wonderful classes with Rod Stryker of ParaYoga. I could write a few blogs about what I learned through Rod, but will just highlight a few.

Class One – Hatha Yoga Pradipika
He made a point that resonated strongly with me -  a reminder -  that Yoga is not just about the muscles, asanas and breath, but also its about the Endocrine System, our organs.  It’s our organs that give us longevity and we use the breath and the bandhas to change the health of our organs.

Class Two – Treta Bandhas
Udiyana Bandha is the master key to Yoga.  This is where the fire (agni) burns up what Rod Stryker calls our “landfill”, the emotional stuff that resides in our second chakra that we need to burn up to get our spiritual Kundalini energy rising from the base of the spine.  He says Mula Bandha gets all the press, but it’s the Udiyana Bandha that we need to stoke.

Class Three – Prana Viyus
He was masterful in explaining the Prana Vayus. We watched our breath as it relates to the five Vayus. As teachers, we could watch our students’ breath through the five subsets and as it got shaky or stuck somewhere, we could relate that directly back to the physical and psychological blocks they were encountering in their lives.  This exercise was poignant for those participating and a real learning experience on the connection between breath and subtle energies.

Rod’s funny response to our discussion on the Apana Vayu and the importance of elimination on a physical and psychological level….“Spirituality goes out the door if you haven’t crapped in four days!”

I would highly suggest checking out Rod Stryker. His new book the “Four Bodies” was just released and I would bet that it’s nothing short of amazing!
This is his website:  http://parayoga.com/

CorePower Yoga
CorePower Yoga was an expression of Yoga rooted in physical training and fitness. It was a high-energy class filled with lunges and Utkatasanas.  We used weights to sculpt and sweat a bunch.  I could see this form of Yoga doing really well for the gym devotee and was very happy that I got to experience it.  I could see myself hitting one of these classes once a week to really get the heart rate up and challenge myself on a physical level. CorePower Yoga teacher Becky reminded me that, “there are seeds of transformation at every turn.”

Seane Corn
Seane is epic all the time!  I don’t even know where to start other than to say that I find her to be one of the most empowering individuals on the planet.  She always has a huge message and it calls you to do great things. When I leave her classes I want to be her – a badass – ready to save the world, raise money and do something great!

I could write a book of favorite quotes from Seane, but this one was particularly funny and it stuck out in my mind…(it’s paraphrased)… “Wow, I just whiffed the alcohol some of you are sweating out. I’m getting high off your sweat. Luckily, Yoga is a practice of detoxification!”

Shiva Rea
I walked out of Shiva’s class with Random Rab and Steve Gold and found myself walking around completely stoned off her energy. It’s Shakti -  its sensual and mystifying.  I don’t even know if we did much asana, but we sure shifted our consciousness quick.  What I love about Shiva is her willingness to be spontaneous, her ability to hold space and allow people to dive into their sensuality. I get high off her love of music and dance. It’s a breed of Yoga that’s just plain … Shiva.

Off the Mat and Into the World – “Finding Your Voice” with Suzanne Sterling, Kerri Kelly and Hala Khouri
A revealing and empowering experience!  We worked with our fifth chakra, Vishuddha, to enhance our ability to communicate.  In our society, many of us are told at a young age that we can’t sing or that we shouldn’t say something when maybe we want to.  From these mini traumas we close down in this center.  We are dying to express ourselves! We learned the power of singing as a tool to heal, express and release the tension we’ve accumulated at the throat.  Together, we practiced opening this chakra through asana, moaning, groaning, shouting and above all singing as a large community.   I realized that we are all amazing singers and have tremendous voices when we can sync up as a community and feel safe and supported! Beautiful.

John Friend, “Creating Potent Themes”
All heart, all the time.  John Friend is a devotee to Bhakti – devotional being and practice. He embodies Yoga as a prayer. In his workshop, Creating Potent Themes, we discussed the importance of language in creating an experience for students of Yoga.  He taught us how we can call upon themes as they relate to the Universal Divine and how themes draw upon heart characteristics. As an example, we analyzed the ‘Five Elements’ and how they relate to actions in our bodies, characteristics of the heart and ultimately express the Divine.  I love Anusara and its intention to open to grace and love!

Kathyrn Budig
I knew Kathryn was beautiful as I see her in Yoga Journal all the time, but I had no idea how down to earth and absolutely adorable and funny she was until Wanderlust.  She’s hilarious and promotes fun and joy! She also has a sick practice and is really great with analogies, simple instruction and making really hard poses achievable.  I look forward to taking many more classes with her in the future.

Michael Franti
I captured part of a story he was telling and thought I’d share it. It’s a little cut off at the end but you can just see his sweetness! He is astounding. Michael is a family man, a musician, a Yogi, a businessman and a spiritual guy.  His energy is profound and intoxicating.  He’s got a heart of gold and a real purpose on this planet to help transform it.

Overall, Wanderlust Festival was amazing and I look forward to next year and all the related events they are hosting around the U.S.

Yoga is a conscious practice that is raising the vibration of this planet one breath at a time on a massive scale. I feel so blessed, honored and grateful that I am able to get on my mat every day and experience this gift of breath and transformation.

Great thanks to the Wanderlust Festival founders for having this vision and manifesting it into our reality!

Last Sunday, I came across an incredibly purposeful, inspiring and eco-conscious organization at the Capsule Street Fair.  I was so inspired by this business that I asked the owner to write a blurb about what she is doing so that I could help her spread the word.  In just three simple steps you can make a difference in the world!

Puppets with a Purpose is a new organization that empowers children and adults to make a positive impact on the world using the magic of their imagination along with easily found free materials.

Here are the three steps to inspired purpose!

1)  Step one is simple. Come together and make puppets using recycled, repurposed and reusable materials!

2) Step two. Sell the puppets (a healthy joyful alternative to a bake sale) or stage a puppet performance and bring joy and laughter into your community. You can even create a large-scale sock puppet flash mob if you choose, the possibilities are endless.

3) Step three is the purpose.  Donate any proceeds to the non-profit organization of your choice, whether it is disaster relief, nutritional programs or books and supplies for children in need.

What started out as a simple idea by Brielle to raise funds for the rising homeless population in San Francisco, has recently transformed into an empowering and joy filled new way for communities to raise capital any where they are inspired to give.

Brielle remembers thinking back to Hurricane Katrina and wondering why no one worked together to throw preventative fundraisers, questioning why was it we as a society wait until disaster strikes before coming together to make a change?

Brielle created this program so children and the communities that surround them can feel the valuable benefits of social out reach and giving. She states, “I am choosing to empower individuals by showing them how simple and fun it can be to make a difference in the world.”

Aside from the amazing message, wait until you see how creative these children and parents become with socks!  She was selling some of them at the Fair and they are just absolutely darling!

For more information on how to donate or become involved with Puppets for Purpose, please contact me at brealityrox@gmail.com or join the FaceBook Fan Page Puppets with Purpose or the Facebook Group Puppets with Purpose.

“The word Karma is derived from the Sanskrit Kri, meaning ‘to do’. In its most basic sense karma simply means action, and yoga translates to union. Thus Karma yoga literally translates to the path of union through action. However, in Vedantic philosophy the word ‘Karma’ means both action and the effects of such action. Karma Yoga is described as a way of acting, thinking and willing by which one orients oneself toward realization by acting in accordance with one’s duty (dharma) without consideration of personal self-centered desires, likes or dislikes. Acting without being attached to the fruits of one’s deeds.”{Wikipedia}

In the spirit of giving and Karma Yoga,  myself and a few friends have signed up to do Yoga in the name of charity raise money for  Off the Mat and Into the World through YogaAid at the Wanderlust Festival.

The Yoga Aid Challenge is to complete a 2 hour extreme Yoga practice whilst also supporting great causes!

Please support me and my team “Shakti Shakers” by making a donation to this great cause and help me to make a difference with this Challenge! Here is the link to our site:

http://yogaaid.com/nicoledoherty

We did a little newsletter revamping recently, creating a NicolePresents Version 2.0. It’s cool ’cause its our second year in business as of March 17th, so it all worked out quite nicely.  Yeah, we’ve been working in this industry for a while, but we got official with the government license on St Patty’s Day last year…in a drunken stupor…no, not really, but sounds good doesn’t it?

Our newsletters, depending on which one you sign up for may include witty banter, event listings, recommendations, guest list spots, free giveaways and more! We only send it out 2x’s per month. Sign up below!

Sign up for our Email Newsletter

Haiti needs our help, urgently.  There are many ways that you can give.  Be creative and work fast.

Text Campaigns

Text 90999 with the message HAITI in the subject. You will receive a message asking to confirm your donation with the word YES. The cell phone company will place a charge of $10 on your bill and send the money to the RED CROSS.

Clothing Donations

YOGA LOFT SF is continuing to be a donation spot for clothing, sheets, towels, and things like that until this Thursday. Feel free to drop things off at any time up until then.

ADDRESS:
Yoga Loft SF
321 Divisadero St. (btwn. Page and Oak)
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 626-5638

Redeem your Credit Card Rewards Points

Our credit card company teamed up with some great charities to redeem reward points for money donations to an organization of your choice.  Inquire if you have a membership rewards program.

World Food Programme

We have heard that this is one of the best organizations to work with on this effort. First to the scene. You can create your own fundraising campaign through their website. http://www.wfp.org/how-to-help

Don’t take too long to think, just take action!

In yoga, there are four paths to enlightenment: Bhakti yoga, Karma yoga, Jnana yoga and Raja yoga. Karma yoga is based on the idea that to achieve perfection you must use action. In Sanskrit, the word karma means ‘to do’ or ‘action’, while yoga means ‘union’. Together, the words karma yoga mean union though action. Today, a great way to practice karma yoga is by giving back to your community. Volunteering, donating or creating an event to help raise money for a non-profit organization is a great example.

NextAid is a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization committed to developing and implementing innovative solutions to the challenges facing African children. Their mission is to promote community-driven, environmentally sustainable, economically and socially empowering responses to the AIDS orphan pandemic. They collaborate with individuals, businesses and nonprofits to produce creative, culturally-rich, awareness-raising projects and music events involving technology, the arts, public education projects, and volunteer opportunities.

For updates on upcoming projects and events, or to make a donation, please visit http://www.nextaid.org

Yoga is more than just a practice, its a way of life!  So over the holidays, why not practice Ahimsa for the Holidays! Think of ways that you can contribute to the greater good. Finding ways to help the homeless, volunteer at a shelter, teach some free Yoga classes to friends, or donate to your favorite charity in the name of a family member as a holiday gift!

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The practice of yoga is an art and science dedicated to creating union between body, mind and spirit. Its objective is to assist the practitioner in using the breath and body to foster an awareness of ourselves as individualized beings intimately connected to the unified whole of creation. In short, it is about making balance and creating equanimity so as to live in peace, good health and harmony with the greater whole.

The core of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra (sacred texts) is an eight-limbed path that forms the structural framework for yoga practice. Each is part of a holistic focus which eventually brings completeness to the individual as they find their connectivity to the Divine.

Of the eight limbs the first are the Yamas which then are broken down into five “wise characteristics.” Rather than a list of dos and don’ts, “they tell us that our fundamental nature is compassionate, generous, honest and peaceful.”

I.  Yamas (Universal Morality) – First of the Eight-Limbed Path

1 (of 5)  Ahimsa – Compassion for all living things
. The word ahimsa literally means not to injure or show cruelty to any creature or any person in any way whatsoever. Ahimsa is, however, more than just lack of violence as adapted in yoga. It means kindness, friendliness, and thoughtful consideration of other people and things. It also has to do with our duties and responsibilities too. Ahimsa implies that in every situation we should adopt a considerate attitude and do no harm.

For more detailed information, click here!