Musings on yoga, life, and practice that help inspire inquiry and understanding.
The room, light, teacher, other students, and pace of movements all have an effect on our body-mind-heart. We come to rely upon that particular alchemy to help us experience presence and ease.
What happens when the form and container for your practice change? What are you really practicing?
Read MoreHow do you know if an activity is soothing or numbing?
Life brings so many unexpected and uncomfortable experiences. In times of stress, your nervous system needs support to come back to a place of rest and ease.
Soothing activities are nourishing and fill your well with resources. Numbing activities deplete your resources and don't help you in the long-term.
Read MoreYou don't have to find the silver lining. You don't need to "be positive". You don't have to pretend everything is fine, if you're not.
You will encounter waves of feelings. They will crash over you and your loved ones.
Sometimes, you'll get splashed. Other times you'll be drenched. Again. And again. And again. With no space between.
Read MoreHave you ever thought about the difference between digging your well deeper and filling it back up?
Both activities help you build your capacity for resources. It can be really valuable to know when you need one instead of the other, so that you are equipped to meet your life and the unexpected challenges that come your way.
Read MoreIn yoga practice, we are constantly watching where our attention flows and noticing what we are aware of. There are two main ways that our awareness shifts - either exclusively into the small details - or inclusively absorbing the big picture. In this two-part series, we’ll explore exclusive and inclusive awareness.
Read MoreIn yoga practice, we are constantly watching where our attention flows and noticing what we are aware of. There are two main ways that our awareness shifts - either exclusively into the small details - or inclusively absorbing the big picture. In this two-part series, we’ll explore exclusive and inclusive awareness.
Read MoreAs you explore your body and its movement in life and yoga practice, you might discover a whole range of different ways to bring insight and understanding to what you feel and experience. Imagine that these different systems are maps that attempt to describe the territory of the body and support you on your exploration into this wild, untamed human experience.
Read MoreI want to share a little background and information about the somatic movements we’ve being doing in group classes and that I share with students during individual sessions. I was first introduced to this way of practicing in 2009, and my appreciation and understanding of this approach has only deepened over time.
Read MoreAs the long-term journey of my practice evolves, I have come to see sensation as a spectrum. In the beginning we encounter strong and intense sensations as the dominant experience. Over time they start to soften and become less intense. When this happens, how might we shift our approach in practice to bring greater subtlety and refinement?
Read MoreBeginning a home yoga practice can be a daunting proposition, but its gifts are quite worth the effort it asks of us. If you are feeling daunted about the prospect of beginning a home practice, here are some helpful ideas on how to get started.
In this article, I dispel the most common misconception about a home practice and share some ways to set up your space. I also offer some ideas of ways to support your practice.
Read MoreIf we were to compare our practice to a fire, we want to tend the fire of practice with intention and care. In my experience, a healthy fire burns slow and low over a long time. With practice we learn to feed our fire the appropriate fuel at the right time so that it maintains a sustainable warmth without too much effort on our part.
Read MoreWhat does it mean to practice alignment yoga?
In my experience, there are many concepts of alignment in yoga that serve us well in our practice. There are other ideas we hold tightly to that are hurting us and limiting the potential yoga offers us in our lives on and of the mat.
Read MoreAs I sit in the sun and its (unusual) February warmth, I feel inspired to share some of my process and experience of our recent Blood Moon, Blue Moon, Full Lunar Eclipse and the questions it has inspired within me.
Read More"From the moment you enter the garden pathway until the time you depart, you should hold the host in most respectful esteem, in the spirit that the Gathering will occur but once in your lifetime."
- 15th Century Japanese Tea Master
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Edited 7/6/19: As I sit and read this blog over three years after I first wrote it, it gives me great pause.
In recent months, there has been a flood of information about the harmful and abusive “assists” and “adjustments” that Pattabhi Jois gave during 30 years of teaching. These assaults and sexual assaults were packaged in a way that was confusing and enabled by the broader community.
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All is Calm, All is Bright.
Wishing you and yours a very happy holidays.
May you rejoice in the little things that make this season special. The company of family and friends (near and far). The nourishing foods that sustain us in this cold winter. The rituals that offer inspiration and heart to the darkness of the season. May you offer and receive love in abundance. Remember the loved ones that are no longer with us, and cherish the memories of years gone past.
May you know the divine and unique fire within you. Tend it well so that you might share it with the world.
Two Hands Together. Namaste.
My yoga practice invites me to tune into rhythm and shifts in my body and in the world around me. I feel a strong pull this time of year to settle inward.
The December days in Santa Cruz grow short and crisp. The clouds build and empty rain onto our dry earth.
My lap is warmed by my kitty as we sit for morning meditation. My body responds and opens with the heat of asana.
I find myself exploring the darkness of the season. This journey takes me into the realms of story, mystery, ritual, archetypes, and the shadow within.
Read MoreAs I sit and reflect on my recent study in the Prajna Yoga Temple in Santa Fe, I observe the deep soaking that happens during a week of practice and study. I find myself watching the ways that soaking slowly nourishes the leaves, buds, blossoms, and insights that come in the months that follow.
Read MoreAs a student of yoga, either new or returning, it can be a bit daunting and embarrassing the first time you mistakenly breach etiquette in your favorite yoga class. There is rarely a formal introduction for new students, and sometimes we think we've got it right only to realize much later we've missed the mark a little.
My intention with this post is to share some tips on ways to respect the teacher and other students when attending a yoga class. I see it as a way to continue our mindfulness practice before, during, and after class.
Read MoreI've learned that while you don't need anything fancy, tropical, or far away to retreat into one's Self...
There is something quite alchemical about a retreat that combines yoga, meditation, hot springs on the Pacific Ocean, a treasured teacher, and a sangha of dear friends.
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Dawn uses consent cards to honor your needs and preferences regarding hands-on touch in practice. She prioritizes verbal instruction and visual demonstrations but might find it helpful to use touch (with your consent) in certain situations. You are invited to flip your token over at any time to communicate your needs throughout class.
“Dawn’s approach to yoga, breath, and meditation have been transformative for me. Her insightful sequences, attention to alignment, and use of props have not only expanded my practice in the studio but have also given me the confidence to cultivate a sustainable home practice. Through her teachings and retreats she creates a yoga community that supports deep self-work, reflection, and growth. She has given me the tools to look inward, heal, and rest solidly in the present. I feel so blessed to have Dawn as my guide, I am excited to continue exploring this path alongside her. ”
© 2023 Dawn Hayes Yoga
