My Interview with Nyack News and Views

Bharadvajasana 2/Pose dedicated to the Sage Bharadvaja photo credit Michael Hays

      I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Michael Hays who has a column called Nyack People and Places at an online newspaper called Nyack News and Views. Being interviewed on how I chose the yoga path was an interesting and eye opening experience for me to reflect on. Speaking about my career and yoga practice so far gave me a greater appreciation for good, bad and neutral experiences that got me to where I am today.

Check out the link below to read more :

https://nyacknewsandviews.com/2018/03/nyack-people-places-allison-egan-datwani-yoga-teacher/

Spring Cleaning

   I'm pretty good about giving away what I no longer use but as I attempted some spring closet cleaning during this last snow day I noticed there are just a few things I'm having trouble parting with. I guess I identify and feel secure with them. The experiences I had receiving, buying and wearing some things mean something to me. When you clean your space it can feel freeing but at the same time wondering if you did the right thing. Thoughts like "Maybe there's an unexpected party invitation coming up where I could wear those shoes just one last time?" or "I could use this as a costume next Halloween."

   If you're feeling slow to free up your space from unnecessary clutter or you did the let goes and you're asking "Did I do the right thing?" try sending plenty of love and compassion to that part of you that's afraid to let go and grow. These emotions show you a bit of who you believe yourself to be. Seeing plenty of patience and love around these emotions will overtime show you that you are not these things. You are so much more.

   Do some Spring cleaning, release things from the past and move forward just like the Spring season suggests. After all holding on like a tight bud in March doesn't feel so good in April and definitely not in May.


"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was greater than the risk it took to bloom." -Anais Nin

2 Links I Love to Inspire your Spring Well Being

Parsvottanasana/Intense Side Stretch Pose Variation
Self Portrait

    When it comes to ladies yoga wear all you need is a plain old t-shirt, a good bra and leggings that are not see through when you bend over. Yet I've noticed dressing up a bit more for my practice with cheerful colors and flattering body wear can feel good. I'll admit I'm very picky when it comes to purchasing body wear. It's got to be affordable and not overly suction hold your breath in fabric and styling. I've been a customer of Fabletics for the past year and I am beyond satisfied with their products, pricing and service. Become a VIP member and you will receive amazing mix and match outfits that you can wear on and off the mat with great savings. Sometimes they offer promos when you purchase an outfit where a percentage of its price is donated to a charitable cause. Please visit fabletics.com to learn more.

 
      I've been a customer of Pacifica Beauty for a long time. I've been a devoted fan of their lilac spray perfume for I can't even remember how many years. Little by little this very affordable brand has taken over my skin care, makeup and candle burning aromatherapy needs. Pacifica Beauty is a 100% Vegan and Cruelty-Free Award Winning Natural Beauty company. What I love is how their fragrances and cosmetics enhances and illuminates you rather than over does it. This company has a service where you can recycle and reincarnate your empty product containers. Please visit pacificabeauty.com to learn more and enjoy.


      By the way I was not asked to share this info nor am I receiving anything for doing so. I'm simply grateful for these companies and I'm happy to share the love. What's new for you this spring? Do you have well being plans? A new strategy?

Valentine's Day Couple's Yoga Workshop at Birchwood Center Nyack, NY

    My Mother is from Ecuador and to acquaint me with her culture and family I spent my childhood summers in South America. Here I was introduced to yoga sometime in my pre teen years by my yogini Grandmother. She did breath exercises, yoga postures and meditations at home and often referred to and quoted her spiritual teacher Paramahansa Yogananda. I have many good memories of going to yoga class with her. When I returned home from my summers in South America I didn't seek out yoga until later in my life. I believe my early introduction to yoga and having experienced its calming, grounding and empowering benefits made it a first pick lifestyle choice when lets say life's waves got very rocky. I've come to learn having a yoga practice has a way of making you a better surfer through life's highs, lows and neutral moments.

     This February I'm happy to share that I am leading a Valentine's Day Couple's Workshop Saturday February 17th from 2:30-5pm that's designed for couples and partners ages 10 years old and up at Birchwood Center in Nyack, NY.

     This special class is for all levels and will be perfect for someone who is brand new to yoga. In this heart opening class you will ground, center and warm up alongside your partner, followed by easy partner yoga poses that will relax your neck and shoulders and strengthen and stretch your back body. We will conclude our practice with a nurturing restorative pose and final relaxation. Participants are invited to stay for refreshments and community at 4:30pm.


     $60 per couple 

     Early Bird Special! $50 per couple if purchased by February 14th

     Please Visit   www.birchwoodcenter.com   for more information and to register

Make A Wish

What you seek is seeking you. -Rumi

Happy New Year!

Winter Solstice Meditation: Grace

 



   Grace can be understood from a spiritual context or with physicality to describe how one moves with ease and beauty. The quality of grace I'm reflecting on during these last dark days of December is how it mysteriously appeared several times for me this past year and filled the void that absolutely needed a lift. Grace is a blessing. A bridge that brings you to the other side. It's like touching the divine and not being able to hug it for long. Similar to water, grace slips through your fingers and leaves you feeling refreshed. It is a light that swoops in to free and heal us.

   I believe grace is a feeling we seek this time of year as we let go of what was and prepare for what will be in the New Year. As we celebrate the holidays, light candles and await the rebirth of the sun perhaps you can consider meditating on the gift of grace in your life. How has it touched you?

Gratitude and Forgiveness Meditation

   A couple of weeks ago I taught an open level vinyasa flow yoga class at Bamboomoves Yoga in Englewood, New Jersey on Thanksgiving Day. Being that Englewood is my hometown, teaching on a high energy day like Thanksgiving gave me a little extra rush of joy that's pretty much indescribable. At Bamboomoves we had a full house of eager to practice students. There were some people present I've known most of my life in addition to the daily crew who brought family and friends.

   What stood out most for me was the lovely energy that filled the room at the end of class as the class rested in a heart opening restorative yoga pose. Here I guided everyone into a Gratitude/Forgiveness Meditation. I'm taking the time to post this guided meditation because I was inspired by this group meditation. Also because the teachings of gratitude and forgiveness have helped me tremendously. Although there's times I may forget to embody gratitude and forgiveness, I've come to learn there's always another day to start again.


    Gratitude/Forgiveness Meditation


    Recline on your back with your arms extended at heart height. Palms face up. You can also try the folded blanket under the arms and behind your shoulder blades option as shown in the photo above. Extend your legs with your feet hip width apart. Let your knees and feet turn out. If your lower back feels tension place a folded blanket or pillows under your knees to ease your low back body.

   Close your eyes. Let go of your last conversation and relax your body. Notice the tidal quality of your natural breath. Let go and rest.

   Gratitude, being thankful opens you to attract abundance. Forgiveness connects you to your highest self. Finding forgiveness is a step towards gratitude and abundance because you need to let go of resentments, anger, fear and all that's negative to make the space to receive the many gifts that await you. From this open and receptive space is where you can create. Creations that will serve you and many more. If you hold onto resentments and anger you block your positive flow. Clinging onto judgements creates a very thick wall around you. You hurt yourself, those around you and possibly strangers. Letting go and forgiving yourself, your enemy and whatever it is that ails you will remove this wall and overtime change your situation.



   Visualize what you are ready to forgive.

   Rest

   Visualize what you are grateful for.

   Rest

   Visualize abundance and joy.

   Rest

   Visualize what you can give.

   Rest

   Repeat to yourself "I will stay open. I will stay open. I will stay open and not get stuck within one opinion and sit in judgement."


   Deepen your breath, make easy movements to transition into sitting in a comfortable crossed legged position. Sit for a few moments in silence before you go on with your day.



   *Special thanks to Dada J.P. Vaswani from the Sadhu Vaswani Mission in Pune, India and his teachings on Gratitude and Forgiveness. The next International Moment of Calm is August 2nd at 2pm for 2 minutes where you can join many people around the world get quiet, forgive and receive plenty of freedom as a result.