I am celebrating my 21st year living a yogic lifestyle and teaching the philosophy and applications of yoga. In spite of the arduous path of the yoga teacher( this black yoga teacher), I still feel energized about teaching yoga to everyone! My body, mind and spirit know that I have chosen the right path and my days are often filled with enthusiasm and joy as I reflect on each students’ progress and challenges on the path of practice.
This year I also celebrated my return to singing jazz professionally. I did my first gig at the Providence Black Repertory Theatre this past summer and I found my voice in Billie Holiday’s End of a Love Affair. Just a few bars into this melancholy tune, I knew I was right where I needed to be; I knew that yoga and music would work for me. Singing is very similar to yoga –it has a freeing ethereal quality to it and like yoga releases ones’ life energy (prana); and like yoga feels great!
Each day I rise I am honored to teach yoga
What a year 2006 was. I shared the responsibility of hosting, and coordinating our Summit and Retreat held in RI this past summer. What a thrill! What a lot of work! My sister friend, Yogini Jana Long, of Washington DC and I worked on this together and with the support from Krishna Kaur, President of IABYT and other members we created a hugely successful Summit and a Retreat for black yoga teachers and practitioners. We not only explored the healing benefits of yoga but had an opportunity to be in the company of like minded teachers of color --where we talked asana, teaching techniques and styles, anatomy, and philosophy. I learned a new approach to teaching downward facing dog from Yogi Chris Hoskins, a different view of the anatomical process from Yogi Arturo Peal. We danced and went wild with African Dance led by Yogini Abigail Jefferson and her drummers. Shola Arewa from the UK taught us about order and passion.
I learned much about the practice of yoga this year as I continue to study and attempt to grow with my exploration of its ancient techniques and philosophies. My body taught me to slow down, breathe, relax and practice living mindfully, and include more aerobic exercise in my daily practice--which I now do.
Many good things happened to me in 2006— But most importantly in all the working and doing I can say that all of my family members are well and thriving in this tempestuous and tumultuous war time world, and I still practice and teach yoga. I am truly blessed!
I started the New Year teaching Yoga to Women of Color in Washington DC
I welcomed in the New Year offering my Yoga Retreat for Women of Color™ in Washington, DC sponsored by Design NatureLLC I look forward to this New Year and there will be many opportunities for you to join me to study and practice yoga. Look for me at: The Pura Vida Spa in Costa Rica; Kripalu Center for Yoga and Heath; Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, NY. Harriet’s Alter Ego in NY; All that Matters in RI; The Yoga Hive in Atlanta Ga. and at the new Power of One Yoga Studio in Baltimore, Md. ….Stay tuned for more news as East Coast members establish the first North East Chapter of IABYT.
Wishing you all good things this New Year!
Yogini Maya Breuer
Visit mayabreuer.com for further information
