Twist Yoga
A restful retreat

 

Greetings!

 

"Hi.  I'm Janet," my roommate introduced herself.  "But I prefer to be called Krishna." 

 

Janet/Krishna, was one of my "dorm-mates" at a Sanskrit chanting retreat I attended at the beginning of April.  Rounding out our quad, bunk-bedded cabin of strangers were Willow and Sage.  Willow was sensitive to scents, and announced such via notes on each of our pillows:  "I'm extremely sensitive to anything with a scent, so I'd appreciate it if you could refrain from using personal grooming products that aren't unscented.  - Willow"

 

Aren't unscented?  Aside from being a double-negative, I resisted the urge for a smart-ass rebuttal on content, if not grammar:  "Willow:  I, too, am sensitive to scents, so I would appreciate it if you WOULD use personal grooming products. - Jen"

 

All joking aside, from April 4-7, I spent four restful days at a kirtan (chanting/singing) retreat at Breitenbush, a hot springs resort in the Oregon mountains.  I had visited several times before, and while the stay is always delightful, stepping off the grid into a mountain community full of tree-huggers is a bit of a shock, especially for a Type A tree-hugger like myself who is comforted by completing tasks. 

 

Plus, meals are mostly vegetables, so folks get pretty gassy.

 

Completely off the grid, there's nothing to do here but unplug: to eat, sleep, rest and soak. Free from distractions of life, you can't help but to slow down and notice your own thoughts.  That, and notice the behavior of others who are at the retreat.... Which is, by far, one of the most entertaining things about being at a place like Breitenbush.

 

But the primary reason I was there, aside from an anthropological study, was to sing kirtan.  And sing we did.  Led by musician Jai Uttal, we spent three hours each morning and night chanting in Sanskrit.  The effect was a surprisingly calm and joyful experience; for you can't help but to be in the present when you sing. 

 

Even two years ago, you couldn't have paid me enough to sing for six hours a day.  But as my yoga practice changes, I found myself a little more open to aspects of yoga aside from postures.  And it's worked - despite being the busiest I've ever been in my life, most of the time my yoga practice keeps me grounded, free from suffering and happy.

 

We hope you join us for a class at Twist Yoga in the coming days, where along with your workout, you might experience the simple joy of singing (in very small doses) in your classes.   

 

We'll see you at the studio.

 

Om,

 

Jen

Twist Vinyasa Yoga

twistyogaedmonds.com

 

Sanskrit made simple.

 

Since we did all of our singing in Sanskrit, in honor of the language, I thought I'd discuss two of my favorite words, Guru and Drishti. 

 

Guru.  One who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others (teacher).  At Twist Yoga, we talk of your best teacher being "Sat Guru" or yourself.

 

Example:  Jai Uttal was our leader; aka guru, for the workshop. I had previously assumed, based on his name, that Jai had a traditional Hindi upbringing; I imagined on the banks of the Ganges, maybe.  Once at the workshop, however, I discovered Jai was actually an Art Garfunkel look-alike who had been born into a nice Jewish family from Queens. Spending his formative years observing Shabbat, he tinkered with music here and there until 1971, when, like many of the generation, he traveled to India in search of enlightenment.  Upon arrival, however, he discovered his intended guru was actually in prison for mass murder.  Not knowing what to do next, he floated aimlessly around the country for year, if only for the reason he couldn't afford the plane fare home.  The long and the short of it is that the Hindi culture agreed with the New Yorker, and after a long gestation in the womb that was 1970s India, he was reborn and baptized Jai Uttal, master of the sitar, harmonium and Sanskrit chanting. 

 

Drishti. [from the verbal root drish to see, behold with the mind's eye] Seeing, the faculty of sight; also the mind's eye, hence wisdom, intelligence.

 

Example: Commonly used at Twist Yoga to maintain steadiness in balancing poses, drishti means, among other things, a place to focus your eyes.  Herein lies the dilemma:  In the clothing optional hot springs at Breitenbush, where does one focus their drishti while soaking in a tub full of naked strangers?  I found myself one afternoon, enjoying a solitary soak in a tub, when at least a dozen unclothed bathers joined me.  "Shit!  Where do I look now?" was my first thought.  (I won't tell you what my second thought was.) "If I rest my drishti down, I'm staring right at this guy's family jewels.  Across isn't any better - gynormous breasts there. To the right?  Nope, not good."  I finally settled my gaze on my hands, as if they were the most interesting thing to examine.... for 20 minutes. After a couple of days, I found a good naked hot tub dristi solution was to either, a) Look intently at the water, 2-3 inches in front of my own body, or b) gaze far off into the distance, at some tree or something. 

 

 

Whidbey Island Retreat: Save 20%
Final weeks to save. Join Jen and Carmen for our summer retreat from July 8-10.
Join us this Thursday for donation-based yoga

Thursday, April 21.
5:30-6:45pm

Tollack's back from Holland and teaching his famous juicy flow THIS Thursday.


And the best part?  You can attend for free.  Or you can give us any donation amount.  Pay what you can for some really great yoga. 

 

Upcoming workshops

 

Final

weeks to  

save 25%

Summer retreat 2011
Whidbey Island
July 8-10

Register for our summer summer yoga retreat to Whidbey Island by May 1 and save 20% of our already low tuition. Enjoy 3 days of yoga, organic meals and relaxation with Carmen and Jen at The Whidbey Institute, on South Whidbey Island.  For more information, email jen@twistyogaedmonds.com
Offer Expires: May 1, 2011.