Be Transformed by the Savanna

by Jill Sockman

The African Savanna is a place that has captured people’s hearts for centuries. Even those who haven’t yet been able to experience the savanna face to face can’t help but be inspired by the images of a migrating herd of wildebeest or the lion pride that captures its unfortunate stragglers. Perhaps the best example of how humans love to view nature in its “purest” form is the 8-minute You-Tube video called, “the Battle at Kruger”. In a very short period, an extraordinarily lucky tourist filmed lions stealing a baby buffalo from its herd, a crocodile that immediately tries to pinch the catch leading to an intense tug-o-war, only for the buffalo to walk back up to the lions and throw them completely out of the picture, rescuing back what belongs to them.… Read the rest

by Jen Davis

Have you ever seen a stick figure drawing created by a child? They are hilarious! I have seen arms that hang to knees, heads as big as torsos and legs three times as long as the rest of the body you get the idea. Teaching kids correct body proportions when drawing is a great way to tap into body awareness. As part of this yoga art workshop I asked each student to draw a stick figure on a piece of paper. While each student was able to identify body parts during yoga, it was interesting to see the figures they drew.… Read the rest

What To Do With Time

by Sandy Scherer

Back in the day, when I worked in the corporate environment, a couple of my employers used different “personality tests” to gauge how people worked. The idea was that once you knew your own personality type and understood and appreciated that of others’, effective work teams for specific projects could be created by pulling in people of various “types” or skill sets. One such test I took at a workshop with my peers was the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®.

You may be familiar with this. Essentially, the results indicate a number of factors, like if you focus on your outer world (Extraversion – E) or inner world (Introversion – I).… Read the rest

Training For Enlightenment

by Jill Sockman

Every time I leave the guest house here in Dharamsala, it’s a climb up 166 stairs. If I go to a yoga class down the hill, that’s another 103. Most restaurants offer rooftop seating, so that’s another 30+ stairs each meal out. I suppose we go out a minimum of three times per day, so that’s a bare minimum of 500 stairs up and 500 stairs down each day. It’s no wonder then that you don’t see loads of husky Tibetans roaming the streets. At altitude, I feel like I’m in training for some enlightenment event: step by step, no end in sight, one foot in front of the other.… Read the rest

The Possibilities

by Anisha Desai Fraser

Over Memorial Day, my husband was taking me on a surprise adventure. The weekend started out pretty trying, with a six-hour drive filled with hail, strong winds and thunderstorms. The B&B was not as luxurious as he wanted, we felt isolated, and we thought it was going to pour rain all weekend. I immediately went to disappointment and sadness with this idea that “the weekend is ruined,” and my husband went into his own negativity, which was more of the same. We were set on leaving the next day to return home because it turned into something we were going to have to “get through.”… Read the rest

Don’t Worry. I Got This.

by Suzanne Weiner

“Don’t worry, I got this.” Probably the best line in the middle of a story ever. On our recent retreat to the North Carolina mountains, lots of time was spent in storytelling. Yogi’s seem to excel at the art of the story, and this group in particular could be found laughing hysterically at all hours of the day and well into the night as we told each other the funny stories that have made us the people we are today.

The weekend started for many of us with a delicious lunch at Salsa in Asheville followed by a short drive up some very steep hills.… Read the rest

Blueversary In Review

by Jill Sockman

What a fantastic weekend!
There are so many thank-yous to send around that I don’t quite know where to start. Organizing, publicizing and hosting three days of by-donation classes takes more effort that you might guess. So let me cut to the chase:

Thanks to the faces behind the front desk: they are often called “blue peeps” and they are always called indispensable. But this weekend they went above and beyond the call of duty, taking extra shifts to assist with registrations, donations and altercations! Thanks, Peeps! You’re the best.

Thanks to our team of blue lotus yoga instructors- the best yoga anywhere!… Read the rest

Monday Night’s Playlist

by Anisha Desai Fraser

Since a number of students requested various songs, I’m happily posting Monday night’s Flow & Stretch playlist.

As you move through the weeks and months ahead, keep peace with yourself and any resolutions you may have made by practicing ahimsa. Be patient and kind and non-harming in the way you treat your own self as you continue on your journey.
Peace,
Anisha… Read the rest

by Jen Davis

Can you be present with what is, knowing it will change? This question is asked from time to time in yoga classes, usually during a particularly difficult pose. We are challenged to pay attention to the running dialogue in our minds and begin to change it so we can stay, breathe and find peace in the truth it will be different soon.

Needless to say this is not easy on the mat, nor out in the world. I know for myself, I fight to get away from uncomfortable feelings, and in the fleeing I usually make it worse.… Read the rest

Blueversary!

Namaste!

Someone recently asked me how long blue lotus has been open. My immediate response was the standard “It will be four years in February.” But my internal response had a little more excitement, amazement and surprise. I actually can’t believe it’s been four years, and that we are moving into our 5th year as downtown Raleigh’s yoga sanctuary!

Nearly every newcomer to the studio comments on the community that our teachers, students and volunteers have created at “The Blue.” It’s a place where everyone is welcome to join us for the fun, the inspiration and the family that has grown from a shared yoga practice.… Read the rest