Silvia's Blog

ITALY YOGA RETREAT JUNE 20-26!

TUSCANY, ITALY YOGA & CULTURAL ADVENTURE JUNE 20-26, 2010:

EARLY BIRDS ONLY $1825 ALL INCLUSIVE!!!   

QUESTIONS? retreats@totalbodyyoga.com or 847-772-9642

 

Tuscany is a life-changing place for many, including myself! Explore the dimensions of your yoga practic e while exploring the rich Italian culture by biking, hiking and walking tours. Jointly led by Vinyasa Flow Yoga teacher Silvia Mordini and International Travel Guide Jacob Young, this spiritual and cultural gem is found in the heart of the Tuscan food and wine country.

We will be guests at an 800 year old classic Tuscan farmhouse converted into a stylish yoga retreat. Looking out one of the many windows of the different accommodations in Ebbio, you will be captivated by the undulating hills swept with thriving vineyards, olive trees and enchanting evergreen forests. The amazing part of Ebbio is that it is still a working organic Tuscan Farm with its own Chianti wine production and uses only garden-fresh produce or goods from open aired markets to create exquisite fine food for our meals prepared by our private host Franz.

 DAILY AGENDA
8:00am – 9:30am Vinyasa Flow Yoga/Meditation
9:30am – 10:30am Breakfast
10:30am – 12:30pm Daytime Excursion or Free Time
12:30pm – 1:30pm Lunch
1:30pm – 5:30pm Afternoon Excursion or Free Time
5:30pm – 7:00pm Vinyasa Flow Yoga
7:30pm – 11pm Dinner, Group Fun and Relaxation

 

SPECIAL CULTURAL PROGRAMS (ALL INCLUDED!)

ALL IS INCLUDED IN THE TRIP PRICE

PRICE $1950 (Early birds only $1825 by April 1st!)

You can pay with check, direct bank deposit, or credit card or Paypal on line but we most prefer checks. Please send checks to Total Body Yoga Retreats, 210 Terrace Drive, Mundelein, IL 60061.

Early-bird discount: $100 OFF before April 1st! Deposit: A $500 dollar deposit will reserve your space. Balance must be received by May 20th, 30 days prior to retreat.

 

NOT INCLUDED:

Airfare to and from the trip, gratuities for your guides, and personal items purchased during the trip.

 

3/7/2010   Tags:  Tuscany, Yoga Retreat, Italy Yoga, Italy Yoga Retreat Direct Link



DETERMINATION AND PERSEVERANCE

MARCH 7, 2010:  Make up your mind right now about the kind of day you want to have. As Robert Frost writes, "First thing I do in the morning is make up my bed, then I make up my mind."  So we begin every yoga practice and our daily life practice resolute and determined about our intentions.  Now the reality is that when we wake up our minds like our beds might be a bit rumpled up.  So we have to go about the work of tidying up our minds. We do this by conscious breathing, the breath combs our energy just like combing our hair in the same direction brings order to it. And inherent to the breath we are reminded that every inhale we get to begin again, so if we forget what we want, lose track of it or simply stop trying we can persevere and simply BEGIN AGAIN.  

What determination is NOT is it is not anger. We cannot SUSTAIN a determined effort if we are in a state of fear or contraction or isolation. We can only maintain a quiet courage and determination when we open up, we have faith and allow our actions to demonstrate trust in the good of the universe.  You can't be motivated by fear or darkness and expect good things to come of it.  Determination has this quality of perseverance that is that long term practice.   

This is why during the course of our yoga class we practice conscious breathing the whole time until Savasana, to practice staying with and sustaining interest in something (our breath, our life seems to be a good choice).  And then this we apply to our greater intentions.  What do you believe in?  Do you really believe peace is possible? As Eckert Tolle says, "if peace really mattered to you, if it was really important, you would find peace." Imagine if the whole world could maintain its interest in world peace not just for an hour, a day, a week, a year but forever?! And if we forgot we'd just remember how important it was to us and our determination to persevere would continue to ignite our spirit. Like an unknown author writes, "Our I CAN is more important than our IQ."  

So stay with it.  Whatever it is that you've determined is important.  And do not hesitate. Cast away the doubts of whether you're doing the right thing, just stay with it. Too often we give up in our heads way too soon.  Or we allow our hesitations to steal our energy.  Or we let our energy get pulled apart by trying too many different things, at some point the Yoga Sutras advise in facing our obstacles we have to develop a mastery of something. And put your whole heart into that.  

During class we experienced a 3 minute Salutation, an easy Dancing Warrior 1 (from downward dog, 1 leg dog to Warrior A to basic vinyasa) that taught us how to stay with it and persevere. We also practiced an arm balance or two which are poses of concentration, single mindedness (not about actually getting our feet off the ground, just about the trying.) And we did a long series on one side of the body to teach ourselves something about sustaining interest.  Just like the power of this little French girl in this clip to stay with a single story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM35grvNkss  

I've included our class plan (modified up or down depending on level of class) and the key take always from yesterday's epic practice are this: 1. Make up your mind

2. When you forget, get lost, stop trying then Begin Again is your mantra

3. Stay with it (Determination is perseverance, the ability to sustain interest/action over a long period of time)

4. Don't hesitate.  

So today engage yourself in your life and really go for it!  No more waiting or making excuses. Determine what you want and let's get started. Big love! Silvia    

 

OPENING Supine Cobbler Cobbler abs Frog abs Happy Baby k1 and supine 1 legged twist each side Happy Baby k2 rock and roll to cobbler Cobbler to Upward Plank flow  

WAVE 1 Malasana to Boat 3-5 times Malasana to Forward Flow pulsation Tip Toe Pose (Krama 2 arms up Kalabhati breathing) Hold Crow Tripod 1 legged tripod Half Moon B Standing Splits Pyramid I legged dog, basic vinyasa Jump to Malasana  

WAVE 2 Dancing Warrior 1 Salutation DW1 (Warrior A to Pyramid flow)  

WAVE 3 (Mandala Salutation) Low lunge to Half splits (or full splits) to Low Lunge twist, High Lunge twist, Low Lunge  Revolve lunge Transverse lunge (optional half crow) Low Lunge to Half Splits to Half virasana Low lunge Basic vinyasa (or 1 legged version)  

WAVE 3A - Second Half of Salutation Standing Splits to 1 legged squat 3 x's hold standing splits Bring back foot through to front and sit after balancing in another variation of tip toe pose Right knee is bent/left leg is straight becomes Marychasana C: inhale up, exhale twist Level 1:  Janu Sirsasana to Pigeon to Downward Dog (Optional basic vinyasa) Level 1-2: Marychasana C stand up to Crane to Eka Pada Galavasana to Basic vinyasa  

WAVE 4 Dog Child's Pose Cobbler Seated Cobbler Supine Savasana

3/7/2010   Tags:  yoga class plan, hesitation, sustaining, yoga poses, determination, perseverance Direct Link



YOGA MAKES ME HAPPY, SO DOES WINE AND CHOCOLATE

MARCH 4TH, 2010:

Dear Chicagoland Yogi Friends,

I have the perfect way to warm up this weekend! Join us at TBY to be inspired through laughter, awesome music, wine and chocolate with my good friend David Romanelli, recently written up in the New York Times.  So I've been asked a ton of questions about this weekend so here's the inside scoop:

1. If you're dying to learn how to balance on one finger in a pretzel like position then know we are NOT doing that this weekend.  No super funky poses so that means it is open to ALL Yogis of all abilities. The only prerequisite is a sense of humor.

2. If you want to learn 25 new seriously strict alignment principles then this weekend isn't it.

3.  If Yoga makes you happy, (or for that matter wine or chocolate) and you really just want to have a great time laughing out loud with a bunch of easy going yogis.  Then YES! this weekend is perfect!

Ultimately why I love having David here each year is that he helps create an atmosphere of friendship.  When you get on the ride with David its going to be a good time and we can all use more fun in our lives just like last week where I said Yoga is like recess for Adults. 

My greatest intention for TBY is that it be a place where strangers become friends.  I DON'T WANT YOU TO COLLECT POSES.  I'D RATHER HAVE YOU COLLECT FRIENDS THROUGH YOGA.

So come have some fun, peel off a layer or two of seriousness. I promise, it's good for you! Love, Silvia

 

Yoga + Miracles: Friday, March 5th Time 7:30pm

With Wine, Anything is Possible

This event is perfect for:

--people whose health is always a bit off 
--people who love amazing stories about human potential to beat the odds, overcome adversity, take the bull by the horns, and kick ass!
--people who have been soured by the bad economy and could use a shot of faith and hope

 

Yoga + Eternal Youth: Saturday, March 6th Time 12:30PM

Who Needs Botox when We've Got Chocolate

This is just the right workshop for people who:
--want to embrace aging with grace...not to mention great chocolate
--might have a wrinkle or two on the outside but feel like 32 on the inside (if not 25)
--love to have fun and think serious yoga is for the dogs

Yoga + The Grateful Dead: Saturday, March 6th Time 4:00PM

Living each day as if it could be your last

This event is perfect for people who:
--love THE GRATEFUL DEAD b/c rockin' Dead tunes will play throughout
--need to slow down and savor the moment before life slips through your fingertips
--are squeezing too tight and stressing too much

 

Chocolate- Covered Happiness:  Sunday, March 7th Time: 2:00PM

--Do you feel like you could use more laughter?
--Do you sometimes wanna just say WTF, kick back, and enjoy?!
--Why is it that people in the most primitive and extreme conditions can find happiness while us Westerners struggle to crack a smile?
--Do you just wanna eat more chocolate and everything will be ok? This is a perfect workshop for you!

3/4/2010   Tags:  DAVID ROMANELLI, YOGA, GRATEFUL DEAD, HAPPINESS Direct Link



FEELING CENTERED 9 LIFE LESSONS YOU LEARN FROM CLIMBING (AND YOGA)

MARCH 3, 2010:  What does CENTERED mean to you?  To me it means balance, peace, happiness, patience, a oneness with others instead of a tug of war, and most of all BEING PRESENT.  It is that “isness” of now that Echkart Tolle writes of in A New Earth. When we practice yoga we are actively seeking to make the adjustments necessary to be more present to keep returning to our center by studying ourselves or as Socrates says, "To know thyself."

The third chakra, often called the solar plexus, is our personal power centre, the magnetic core of the personality and ego. The Sacred Truth of the third chakra is ~Honor One-self~. The energies that come together in this chakra have but one spiritual goal; to help us mature in our self understanding - the relationship we have with others, and where we stand on our own and take care of ourselves. The spiritual quality is self-respect. We have all faced or will face an experience that reveals to us our own internal strengths and weaknesses and hence is what throws us OFF balance.  Here below is a beautiful summary of 3rd Chakra key learning points we went over in class together. And one of my FAVORITE TED CLIPS about the 9 life lessons rock climbing (which is so much like yoga!).  Enjoy!! Love and light,

Silvia

 

Primary strengths – IN BALANCE:  Self-esteem, self respect, and self discipline, ambition, the ability to generate action, and the ability to handle a crisis; the courage to take risks, generosity, ethics and strength of character.

  

Primary Fears – OUT OF BALANCE:  Fears of rejection, criticism, looking foolish and failing to meet ones responsibilities, all fears relating to physical appearance, such as fear of obesity, baldness or ageing, fears that others will discover our secrets.

 

How we feel about ourselves, whether we respect ourselves, determines the quality of our life, our capacity to succeed in business, relationships, healing and intuitive skills. Self understanding and acceptance, the bond we form with ourselves, is in many ways the most critical spiritual challenge we face. In truth, if we do not like ourselves, we will be incapable of making healthy decisions. Instead, we will direct all of our personal the hands of someone else; someone whom we want to impress, or someone before whom we think we must weaken ourselves to gain physical security. People who have a low sense of self esteem attract relationships and occupational situations that reflect and reinforce this weakness. Nobody is born with healthy self esteem. We must earn this quality in the process of living as we face our challenges one at a time.

 

Key points about the Third Chakra:

 

Matthew Childs' 9 life lessons from rock climbing (6 minutes)

  1. Don't let go  (you think about letting go way before your body does, hang in there, watch for creative solutions)
  2. Hesitation is bad
  3. Have a plan  (plan ahead to get to the top but you can't forget you have to complete each individual move)
  4. The move is the end
  5. Know how to rest (best climbers know to to get themselves into a position where they can regroup, calm themselves)
  6. Fear sucks (you are focusing not on what you're doing but on the consequences of FAILING at what you're doing, anything effective requires you focus on what you're doing)
  7. Opposites are good
  8. Strength doesn't always equal success (pull up example guys and girls)
  9. Know how to let go (once you get to that point where you know its going to happen, think about how you are going to fall, that's how you won't get hurt, fall in a way that you can control the fall, don't just hang on until the bitter end)

  http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/matthew_childs_9_rules_of_rock_climbing.html

3/3/2010   Tags:  TED, be present, mountain climbing, fear, balance, centered, energy, chakras, strength, Direct Link



YOGA IS NOT BORING

I can't say this enough: Yoga is not boring!  This practice is inspiring us to make each day memorable.  It is as my teacher Shiva Rea says, "Celebrating being alive is the essence of a spiritual experience." 

When we practice on the mat we are really cultivating the ability to see the sun inside ourselves.  Especially as we practice Namaskars (Salutations).  "One is offering salutation to the divine represented by the sun, as a source of light removing the darkness of a clouded mind and as a source of vitality removing the diseases of the body. (Mohan)  Or as an unknown author writes, "Darkness isn't the absence of light... it's the absence of you."   Yoga helps us to find ourselves in spite of the darkness of challenges and hardships in life.  With every breath we remove the kleshas, which are like 5 lampshades covering up our inner brightness.  This brings us back to LIFE!  With every breath linked movement we allow our mind and hearts to integrate this basic quality of celebration or joy into our very being.  By the time we leave the mat we feel joy infused into every single cell!  So please join me, keep making time to stoke the flame of celebration, make your own mini olympics for yourself each practice! Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia

3/2/2010   Tags:  joy, happiness, celebration, shiva rea, darkness, light Direct Link



MENTAL DIGESTION AIDS US WHEN WIRED AND TIRED

FEBRUARY 6, 2010:  As Americans we spend a lot of time thinking about physical digestion (what we eat, when we eat, what we're not going to eat, how many calories stuff has) but what about Mental Digestion.  When we have poor mental digestion we experience stuff like poor sleep, obsessive worry, lethargy, impatience, fatigue, anger and an annoying degree of anxiety.  How does this happen?   

1. Being too sedentary keeps us in our heads, leading to overall mental stuckness. We need to move and breath, like we do in yoga.

2. Watching others move like on dancing with the stars doesn't help our mental constipation.  We still need to move and breath.  

Two articles that support this:

(1) Well, health experts say that sitting is deadly.  "Scientists are increasingly warning that sitting for prolonged periods - even if you exercise regularly - could be bad for your health. ANd it doesn't matter where the sitting takes place - just the overall number of hours it occurs.  Several studies suggest people who spend most of their days sitting are more likely to be fat, have a heart attack or even die. After four hours of sitting, the body starts to send harmful signals says Elin Elblom Bak of the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences as reported in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.  

(2) In the January 29th, 2010 issue of the The Week, page 23 an article suggests "TV can kill you.  Watching too much television may shorten your life by years. Australian researchesrs tracked the medical conditions of 8,800 healhty adults for several years; the more television the participants watched, the more likely they were to have died during hte years examined.  On average, for every hour per day spent watching TV, a subject was 18% more likely to die of cardiovascular disease, 9% more likely to succumb to cancer, and 11% more likely to die of any cause.  The culprit is the inactivity TV promotes.  Prolonged watching of TV equals a lot of sitting, which invariablly means there's an absence of muscle movement, study author David Dunstan tells CNN.com.  Long, unnatural periods of doing nothing physically, he says, clearly lead to premature death.  The antidote is to just get up and move, he adds. The more you move, the greater the health benefits likely to be."  

Our mental digestion is relieved by using the breath led poses in vinyasa yoga to help us circulate our energies, both physically and mentally.  Otherwise our minds feel both WIRED and TIRED.  We have this need to burn off excess energy that's pent up from sitting too much and we also need to breath and refresh our brains.  Remember as John Doulillard, Director of LifeSpa School of Ayurveda in Boulder, Colorado says, "everyone thinkgs that when you can't sleep, you have too much energy, but usually people have too little energy: they are TOO exhausted to get to sleep."   Please stay with your commitment to yoga and let your life be free of all constipation, mental or otherwise!  Peace and light, Silvia  

3/1/2010   Tags:  mental digestion, energy, fatigue, health, movement, yoga, wired & tired, breath, vinyasa, death Direct Link