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NIH Yoga Week Conference - 5.19.08 - Day One.... Yogalicious!
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Blessings All, Today I attended the first day of NIH's first Yoga Week Conference (http://does.ors.od.nih.gov/fitness/yogaWeek.htm). It was yogalicious. The event began with a warm welcome from NIH staffers and a yoga vinyasa demonstration featuring NIH staff and yoga teachers from Rockville, MD and NYC. As I watched the vinyasa demonstration, I realized that I was sitting behind one of my favorite yoga teachers Alan Finger, the keynote speaker for the day's event. WOW. How cool! Yeah I am a yoga geek! More about Alan Finger ... Alan was born and raised in South Africa. He and his dad were students of Parmahansa Yogananda. Alan also studied with Krishnamacharya and BKS Iyengar. During his forty-seven years of yoga practice, he founded Yoga Works, Yoga Zone, and Be Yoga. Did I mention that Alan is a tantric yoga teacher, author of Chakra Yoga, and co-founder of ISHTA Yoga (with his dad)? I guess not ... Well, now you know.... For more information, visit http://www.ishtayoga.com/. I first learned about Alan's book Chakra Yoga during my yoga teacher training at Flow Yoga Center (http://www.flowyogacenter.com/). After reading the book, my home practice and teaching approach were transformed. The book deepened my connection to myself, encouraged balance in my life and practice, and showed me how to use the chakras to explore my practice and teaching. I also love the book because it included a CD of guided relaxation and meditation techniques. This morning Alan's talk offered wisdom on how I could do no-thing by maintaining my focus on my breath. He led the audience through a breathing exercise that allowed me to just let go and be open to doing no-thing ... being present... It was so relaxing. He also explained his approach to practicing yoga and the meaning of Hatha yoga. As I sat breathing in and out at my own body's rhythm, I felt myself enjoying the now of each moment Alan shared with the audience. What a blessing! After Alan spoke, NIH staffer Rachel Permuth-Levine shared office yoga with the audience. Rachel had us standing, sitting, breathing, bending, and reaching through a series of poses that help office folk like myself create space in their bodies, minds, hearts, and spirits during a normal work day. I walked away from that session with a treasure chest of daily yoga tools. Before I left the conference, I stopped by the Yoga Alliance table and said hello to the wonderful staff who serve all of us registered yoga teachers. It was so good to connect with them and say thank you for all they do. http://www.yogaalliance.org/ I am planning to attend the conference on Tuesday and Friday. Stay tuned for more blogs about the conference. Peace and Spring OMs, Ananda Leeke Founder/Director kg yoga life practices
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