Over the last year and a half through the medium of video classes, I have endeavored to share thematically, mentally, physically, experimentally what I’m exploring in my own practice. I wanted to allow space of process to unfold, and for the unfolding to have a laboratory that expands beyond the physical classroom. My hope is that through this medium things can be practiced again and again, and addressed with questions and answers to lead us collectively into greater awareness.
Through this blog, it is now my intention to offer more insight and information. Since a 90 minute, or one hour class can only hold so much information, I would like to begin adding additional information for those of you who are diligently following some of the through lines of the classes.
Heel foot, Ankle foot. Maybe this teaching should have come first. But in the circuitous nature of self discovery it occurs at the time that I learned it. If we understand how the feet function, authentically, the structure as it is designed to be utilized, it not only shifts our understanding of the foundation of movement but also clears most back pains. We, as a human race, created feet that are meant to be all terrain vehicles. They were designed to climb barefoot up mountains and to run across vast planes. And in truth they are a phenomenal invention. They have a stability component and a mobility component. The stability side is called heel foot, and it consists of the calcaneus (heel) and the fourth and fifth metatarsals. The mobility component consists of the talus, which lies on top of the calcaneus and glides towards the third toe, second toe, big toe. When we walk, move, or balance we can utilize the feet by relating them to the pelvis. The stability foot relates to the outer hip, and the mobility component relates to the inner pubis. Because we wear shoes and walk, for the most part on flat pavement, our feet are not now allowed to move in the way that they have evolved over hundreds of thousands of years. They, instead have a tendency to take on the shape we’ve asked them to. Some feet look like they are still in high heels, or ballet shoes, or ski boots. The good news is, that the potentiality of our bones, and muscles is never lost. If we reclaim the original pattern/function, the equanimity and healing will be restored. And your body wants that.
I’ve included a small video here about the foot. The words are very technical. I didn’t use the video for the words but for the visual. The way I find my way into experiential anatomy is by seeing the form first, and following the way the form functions in my body. It’s like looking at a map and then discovering the territory. Notice in the video how mobile a foot is, and how an ankle is really just a tibia and a talus working to glide like an elliptical machine. Many of us have jammed our taluses because we over grip with our feet and so the sliding function of the talus does not achieve full movement. I’ve watched this video over 10 times, just tracing the shape of the bones in my mind, grokking in my own way the base floor of the heel and the top shelf glide of the talus. To date I know of runners, soccer pros, dancers and bikers who have reformed their feet based on this basic information. I’ve felt the way that by shifting my feet, I’ve realigned my femur bones in my hip sockets. And I’ve noticed that this learning is an ongoing discovery that continues to unfold.
This insight & additional learning will help deepen your experience of Tara’s Relearn Your Feet class.
As you all know, this online yoga video class medium of ours is unique. It allows you to take classes with teachers that may never travel to your area and allows you to take classes whenever it suits your schedule, wherever you may be in the world.
From time to time, there are additional reference materials, insights and thoughts our YogaGlo teachers have about a specific class. What better way to use this online medium than to share that added information with you here?
Consider it official: our YogaGlo teachers will occasionally post on the blog whenever they have a video clip, a cool chart or additional thoughts that may help to deepen your knowledge and enjoyment of a specific class on our site. We will be filing these posts under the Global Classroom category so you can easily find them in the future.
The first of these posts begins tomorrow, with some foot wisdom from Tara Judelle. Stay tuned!
You’ve taken her classes, you loved them, and you asked for more. Now…your wish is granted! We are thrilled to announce that Kathryn Budig is a YogaGlo teacher and her first class in her new role will be at the YogaGlo studio on Tuesday, July 20th at 6pm. Visit the class schedule to stay up to date on Kathryn’s regular class schedule.
Kathryn was trained under the expert eye of Maty Ezraty and Chuck Miller. Her practice and teaching have also been strongly influenced by Heath House, Jesse Schein, Charles James and Noah Maze. She teaches regular Vinyasa Flow classes heavily influenced by Ashtanga, armbalances, inversions, core work and laughter. She is the co-founder with Jesse Schein of Poses for Paws, an organization dedicated towards raising money for animal shelters through yoga. Kathryn is a columnist for The Elephant Journal and contributes regularly to Yoga Journal and Huffington Post through articles, print and podcasts.
Please join us in welcoming Kathryn to the YogaGlo team! Her unique style of vinyasa flow will take YogaGlo-ers all over the world on a wonderful journey of self-discovery and playfulness in their practice. If you are not already a YogaGlo member, we can’t think of a better time to join our growing yoga community.
We hope that you will take advantage of this amazing opportunity to practice with Kathryn in your home or on the go…wherever your practice takes you.
The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali is perhaps the seminal work on the meaning and purpose of Yoga. The study of this text is not simply an academic curiosity, but a vital means of deepening our self-understanding and transforming our consciousness. In this seminar, we will explore essential teaching from all four chapters through not only lecture and dialogue, but also through integrated practices using asana, pranayama, chanting and meditation.
Sundays
7:00 – 9:00 pm
September 6, 2009 – June 6, 2010
Class will meet the first Sunday of every month, for one year.
Who should attend? Open to all, especially practitioners and teachers of Yoga.
Christopher Key Chapple, Ph.D. is Doshi Professor of Indic and Comparative Theology at Loyola Marymount University. He is author and editor of several books, including the 2008 Gandhi Award Winner, Yoga and the Luminous: Patanjali’s Spiritual Path to Freedom.
The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali is perhaps the seminal work on the meaning and purpose of Yoga. The study of this text is not simply an academic curiosity, but a vital means of deepening our self-understanding and transforming our consciousness. In this seminar, we will explore essential teaching from all four chapters through not only lecture and dialogue, but also through integrated practices using asana, pranayama, chanting and meditation.
Sundays
7:00 – 9:00 pm
September 6, 2009 – June 6, 2010
Class will meet the first Sunday of every month, for one year.
Who should attend? Open to all, especially practitioners and teachers of Yoga.
Christopher Key Chapple, Ph.D. is Doshi Professor of Indic and Comparative Theology at Loyola Marymount University. He is author and editor of several books, including the 2008 Gandhi Award Winner, Yoga and the Luminous: Patanjali’s Spiritual Path to Freedom.
Though it rained heavily and lightning seared the sky, it was incredible to see so many people make the choice to practice together in the vast space of the Great Lawn. Yes, it was frustrating to have it all end so abruptly, but the lesson in patience is one that will stick with us for a long time.
Most powerful of all? The event footage we captured (on carefully garbage-bagged cameras to keep them dry!) tells a story we didn’t anticipate telling. A story of The Great Lawn filling up and The Great Lawn clearing out very quickly. Yet, to see the smiling faces, the hugs in the crowd and the genuine coming together of so many people towards a common purpose was fantastic.
Many of you in the YogaGlo community have been gracious enough to share your at-home practice challenges with us. One of the common themes is finding a way to get in a solid yoga class while your younger ones run around, sit on your mat, pull at your clothes or find other ways to entertain themselves, all while you’re trying to focus on your practice. We heard you and we thought it would be a great idea to work with YogaGlo teacher Elena Brower to film a short class with her son Jonah.
Well. As every mom out there knows…these things don’t always go according to plan. This video is our first attempt at a Mommy & Me style class and although it isn’t a class we’d add to our site, we thought it was important to share this funny and endearing outtake with you. We can all breathe a collective sigh of relief now. If Elena Brower, world-renown yoga teacher, has her son running in and out of “class” too, you know you’re doing just fine. Enjoy this lovely little outtake. It includes some fantastic ways to practice yoga at home or on the go with your little ones.
What types of at-home classes with your children would you like to see on YogaGlo in the future? Classes where you can practice together side-by-side? Classes for your older children to practice on their own? Let us know in the comments.
Update: Elena Brower has a fantastic piece up at Mindful Mama about the power of doing yoga with your kids & some important questions to consider before you begin. A must-read for yogi parents!
So you’ve heard the rumblings – we’ve mentioned Flavorpill’s Yoga at the Great Lawn event over the past few weeks and now we can reveal the exciting details of what we’ve been working on: a free livestream of the event so you can attend virtually!
On Tuesday, June 22nd, Flavorpill & JetBlue’s True Blue will host North America’s largest yoga event on the Great Lawn in Central Park – a single class for ten thousand people led by world-class teacher, adidas ambassador & YogaGlo teacher Elena Brower. Since yogis the world over won’t be able to attend this event in New York, we wanted to provide you with a way to do so. Just as you can take our online yoga classes whenever, wherever – in your home or on the go – adidas invites you to take part in this historic event for free at www.yogaglo.com/greatlawn
We’re thrilled to be able to provide worldwide access to this historic event and bring the power of yoga to the masses for free so we wanted to share the news right away. We will continue to keep you posted as more event details are unveiled over the next few days and we’ll be sure to share the YogaGlo team’s experience of the big event along the way. Stay tuned!
Enjoy this lovely little outtake. It includes some fantastic ways to practice yoga at home or on the go with your little ones.
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