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15 Years of Ashtanga Practice

15 Years Blog 

Looking thru my belongings, as I go thru a move, I came across my original Ashtanga certification, signed on 5/30/00, by Larry Schulz. A flood of memories flash thru my mind like a flip book of years and seasons of my life. It was 15 years ago that my first pilgrimage to San Francisco set me on course with my destiny. The moment I saw Larry I knew he was my teacher. I was lucky because I was 20 years old at the time. A course of events that had begun before are clearer to me now. Everything had begun at once for me, my practice, instructing and assisting in teacher trainings. So when yogis ask me if they are ready for teacher training, with out pause I reply, "yes"! Sometimes you just have to take a chance and have faith that you will choose correctly. Have faith that the loves that leave are making room for the new people and events that are keeping you on your path. My biggest yoga lesson that I have learned is how to practice detachment with more grace and acceptance. How not to be attached to what we think we want but rather free our mind to allow the magic of the unknown enter into our consciousness and open us up to the unlimited potential within. 
I've learned that the more I let go the happier I feel. Yoga brings me closer to myself and has been a tool for me to learn how to express myself. The foundation of Larry's teacher training was to say what you mean and mean what you say. The deep teachings of Satya, truthfulness and being true our nature, is a seed in my heart. In 15 years so much has happened, and my eyes have seen a lot. Ultimately that is my truth, all the experiences that have made me who I am. 
8 years ago when I opened Yoga ah, I thought to myself, this is my gift from beyond and there is a lot happening to me that I can't see. Over the years I have gotten a lot of ridicule from others in the yoga community because of my independence and how I only wanted to offer Ashtanga and Rocket at my studio because they thought it was to challenging of a practice. That was my truth tho and Larry always supported me. A good yoga instructor can teach ANYBODY!
It is so amazing to me that on this anniversary Yoga ah is moving into a new space. With this oppurtunity I am able to begin again with fresh eyes and new ideas, allowing all the experiences of the past, show me the way to make Yoga ah stronger in the future. What a beautiful gift. I do it all for the teachings and my love for the practice. It's going to be very interesting what happens from here. ALL IS HERE ALL IS HERE BLESS AND SEE YOU ON THE MAT!
 
Often people walk into It’s Yoga with worry, stress and tiredness written all over their faces but when they leave, they show the effects of Ashtanga Yoga: they feel better and look better, lighter, freer, more relaxed and energized. This is why to me, teaching Ashtanga Yoga is a kind of self-realization; every time I lead class I, as a teacher, grow and express the insights of my own yoga. I see people take in the practice from various angles and develop, change and transcend their limitations, realize their possibilities.

In Memoriam: Larry Schultz, YogaDragonden (1950-2011)