Razzy Reads Blog

By Ashley McGuirk

Ah, summer. We’ve made it to the brightest and hottest time of year. No longer do we dread the dark early evenings. The sun has begun to set around the 8 o’clock hour providing over 15 hours of sunlight. The extended amount of daylight the summer months provide give us the opportunity to spend more time outside and embrace mother nature with open arms. There is no better time to connect with nature than the summer. Take the time to celebrate this seasonal change with a refreshing new activity. Below I have suggested three ways to honor the summer solstice making you feel refreshed and energized for hottest season!

1. Summer Solstice Yoga Practice

            What was that? Yes, that’s your yoga mat calling. It wants you to show up and mark your calendar because June 21^st is not only the first day of summer, but it’s also International Yoga Day! Summer is also an important season for the yoga practice because it’s a season of connection with the environment. The summer solstice is the perfect time to honor the sun through the practice of yoga. It’s like they wanted to give us as much time in one day as possible to fit in a yoga practice. The summer solstice contains more hours between the sunrise & sunset than any other day of the year. So, take the time to channel your inner yogi and commit to some sort of practice on June 21^st. You can perform 108 repetitions of Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations), practice with a friend or take a class with one of our remarkable instructors here at Razz! This year, we are celebrating International Day of Yoga 2019: with a special class on Friday, June 21 at 4:00 pm led by Beth MacMullan…Practice With Purpose which supports the Give Back Yoga Foundation and helps bring yoga to those who might not otherwise have access to the therapeutic effects of the practice. Just download our app or check our online schedule.

2. Add something new to your morning routine!

With the sun rising earlier we are more accustomed to waking earlier (whether we want to or not). So, why not take advantage of this sacred time and space? Do yourself a favor and add a self-care activity to your summer morning routine. It could be as simple as taking 5 minutes to meditate, taking 5-10 minutes to write in a gratitude journal, or making a refreshing smoothie like the three recipes below created by Dharma Mittra himself. All of these self-care practices are not only nourishing for the body, but also the mind.

You can find these recipes and more in Dharma Mittras “Life of a Yogi” Teachers’ manual.

*For best results add all ingredients from one of the below recipes to a blender and blend for 1 minute.

• Free-Me Smoothie

• • ¼- ½ of a whole watermelon
  • (may add 3 sprigs of cilantro or mint)
• Melon- Honey
  • ½ cantaloupe or honeydew
  • 1 orange
  • 2 tsp. honey (optional)
  • ¼ or ½ cup water
• Green Pineapple Cloud
  • 1/2 ripe pineapple cubed
  • ½ ripe avocado cubed

*blend on high speed until light green and cloud-like.

3. GET OUTSIDE!!

Number three is a no brainer when it comes to honoring the summer season. There are limitless possibilities when the sun is shining and you can leave the house without a jacket. Make it a priority to try a new outdoor activity this summer. Below are some fun suggestions to consider.

• Hiking
• Kayaking
• Fishing
• Volleyball
• Gardening
• Stand up paddle board Yoga (SUP Yoga)
• Biking
• Running
• Walking
• Yoga in your backyard
• Yoga on your porch
• Outdoor boot camp
• Tubing
• Go to an outdoor concert
• Dancing
• Stargazing

I hope you take the time to honor the summer season these next few months. If you have any questions about the yoga classes offered feel free to contact our lead instructor, Beth MacMullan at beth@razzyoga.com Until next time, Namaste.

Ayurveda is the sister science to Yoga and is itself several thousand years old. It is one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems. Wellness is defined in Ayurveda not only by a healthy physical body but by a healthy balance between mind, body, spirit, as well as with your environment. Yoga asana, the physical postures of Hatha Yoga can play a role in an Ayurvedic wellness plan. However, Ayurveda adds an entirely new element or at least a new focus on an already existing element of asana practice. When we practice asana in accordance with Ayurvedic wisdom we not only look at alignment and engagement, we also look at what quality the posture evokes in the body/mind/spirit, the way we use our breath in a posture, how quickly or slowly we move through each pose or sequence, the balance of asymmetrical and symmetrical poses in your sequence, and many other variables.

There is also a deep reverence for Nature in Ayurveda. Rather than trying to alter or bolster yourself against your current state Ayurveda honors the seasons of Life, time of day, the phases of the moon, etc…. Everything in this system seeks to find balance between three different qualities called Doshas, or ‘mind/body types’. There is Pitta, meaning “that which digests”, is made up of Fire and Water elements, Kapha, meaning “that which binds things”, is made up of Water and Earth Elements, and Vata, meaning “that which moves things”, is made up of Air and Ether. Each person has their own unique Doshic makeup and because of this, we need many different approaches to health and wellness that are able to bring about that balance.

A Yoga asana practice infused with Ayurvedic principles is generally tailored to the individual and their unique constitution and needs. However, there are some more broad Ayurvedic principles when using asana to create specific effects by either amplifying or pacifying these different qualities in the individual. As we transition cool and crispness of Autumn from the activity and fire of Summer we can begin to see a ‘drawing in’ of the natural world around us. Trees begin to shed their leaves, ground plants begin to die away resting themselves into their bulbs and roots, wildlife seeks to gather food and find adequate shelter for the winter to come. In our human experience, however, we often find ourselves still hustle and bustle at this time of year; school is back in session either for children, college students or teachers, more traffic on the roads comes with that and certain fields of work may pick up at this time, etc… Regardless, of how we get caught up in the busyness of life, we are far removed from the natural flow and observance of the season change and all that comes with it environmentally, as well as physiologically, mentally and emotionally.

Autumn is the season of Vata in Ayurveda. As stated above, Vata is made up of the elements of Air and Ether. Because of this season already amplifying our experience of these energies, this is a time of year where our own Vata energies can become imbalanced. An imbalance of Vata can show up as:

• Constant whirring or racing thoughts, which can contribute to higher levels of anxiety or even insomnia
• Skipping out on meals or eating on the go often and because of this our digestion can become irregular
• Itchy or Dry Skin
• Aching or Stiff Joints
• Inability to focus

We can adapt our Yoga asana practice to help nurture these areas and also help to bring balance to the nervous system. When applying Ayurveda to Yoga asana to encourage a more balanced experience of Vata energy would follow these principles:

• Moving more slowly and mindfully than you typically would
• Practicing asanas that don’t challenge you to the max and support you in feeling grounded, centered and get you in contact with your feet and legs
• Balancing symmetrical postures like Utkatasana(Chair) or Mulasana(Squat) with A-symmetrical postures like Marichyasana C (Seated Twist) or Virabhadrasana 2 (Warrior 2) in your practice
• Moving in and out of simple postures several times slowly. This gives the mind an anchor and allows the whole system (body, mind, spirit) to settle back into alignment with one another
• Applying a breath practice while you move and hold that accentuates the exhales, making them more full and longer than your inhales. This amplifies Apana Vayu, the downward flowing energy of the body.
• Practicing Pranayama techniques that cultivate a balancing of energies in the body/mind. Ujjayi Pranayama reclined or seated, Nadi Shodhana (Alt. Nasal Breathing), etc…
• Taking time to practice a favorite form of meditation before or after your practice

These are just a few ways to apply Ayurvedic principles to your Yoga practice either at home or in the studio. Always feel free to take your practice at your own pace and in that way you are cultivating a deep listening to the inner dialogue that is always happening inside of ourselves.

Hope to see you on the mat!
-Peat

Staying steady with anything can be a challenge. Things might get off to a good start but then like a classic fable, obstacles, and challenges always arise in our path. For example, have you ever tried to alter your diet in some way, let’s say to minimize the amount of sugar you want to consume. First two days are good; smooth sailing even. Then your co-worker shows up, plate of brownies in hand. How many times have we won that battle? First your fighting the brownie….then your fighting FREE brownie. Only the strong survive 🙂 However, if we can stay our course we will taste all the benefits that come from sticking with a healthy diet change. A consistent practice with Yoga is no different. In fact the more regular and consistent you can make your practice, the more you will experience a deepening of its benefits, as well as gaining insight from your practice in more and more subtle ways. It begins with the body and gradually over time and steady practice naturally evolves into the mind, heart, and spirit. A steady, daily practice is like the polishing of a tarnished and rusted piece of metal. Rather than making the metal stronger, better, more flexible, etc… we instead find that we are only uncovering those qualities that were inside of us all along. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali shed a bright light on Yoga practice. Here we’ll examine how this ancient wisdom can help shine light on our own practice, as well as gain an understanding of the benefits that come from a regular Yoga practice.

The Yoga Sutras are a 2500-year-old text that lays out the first organized systemization of Yoga practice dispensed by a legendary figured named Patanjali. This book is pretty much Yoga Psychology 101. It lays out the inner practice of Yoga and if applied to the physical practice of Yoga helps us to access the heart of Yoga practice experienced as an opening of our own heart. We gain entrance to the heart through the quieting of the mind and body. Yoga is defined in Sutra 1:2 as, “the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind-stuff.” A little further on, Patanjali explains how we can go about filling the tall order of stilling the mind. Sutra 1:12 states, “The mental fluctuations are restrained by practice and non-attachment.” For now, we are going to focus on the practice portion of this Sutra. The next Sutra 1:13 describes the loose term practice but keeps it fairly broad stating, “Of these two, effort towards steadiness of mind is practice.” As many of you have experienced within your practice that the physical practice of Yoga coupled with a deep awareness and focus on the breath is one of a myriad of ways to cultivate stillness of mind. Finally, Patanjali talks about how our practice will become strongly grounded. Sutra 1:14 states, “Practice becomes firmly grounded when well attended to for a long time, without break and in all earnestness.” This final tidbit of direction is a key within our Yoga practice, as well as within any practice to create a strong foundation and habit so that when we meet an obstacle or challenge on our pathway we won’t feel defeated or lacking in some way.

What type of practice here at Razz quiets the mind for you? Is it a strong, heated vinyasa, a mindful gentle movement class, yoga nidra, or does it lie somewhere in between all that? We all have varied experiences when practicing and we each may respond differently to the same type of practice. This doesn’t make it so that one is better than the other, but rather makes it so that there is a perfect Yoga for you. This might show up as varying the types of classes you take each week. An example of this would be, rather than taking (4) heated vinyasas each week leaving your body no time for active recovery, you might take (3) and instead add in (1) restorative or gentle practice to create balance in your body/mind.

Before we can set out on our path to a steady yoga practice, or really steadiness in anything, it is an important practice to become aware of the what obstacles you may encounter as you move forward. In this way, we gain a deeper awareness of ourselves and can gain insight into how to overcome, persevere or transform those obstacles. Take a moment here, breathe in deeply, exhale fully and ask yourself these questions:

What obstacles tend to get in the way of staying steady with your Yoga practice?

What do you do when you meet one of those obstacles?

How does it feel when you make it past those obstacles?

Now that we’ve set our sights on the target of consistency, we’re aware of the obstacles and challenges we may face and our ability to meet them, we can delve into the benefits of a consistent Yoga practice.

1. Relieves bodily tension and fatigue, teaches us how to move in more beneficial ways and can assist in establishing good posture
1. Practicing Yoga when we feel tight or stiff or when the mind is agitated definitely has its benefits. After a balanced practice, our bodies feel lighter and more accessible, we may be able to sit more comfortably than before we began, and as we get up to leave we can feel a bit taller, as our spines have lengthened. As we learn to take bodily engagements (core, leg, arm, foot and hand activations) from simpler postures into more advanced postures, we are training our bodies and minds to move in more beneficial ways for the joints and for the spine. Practicing 2-3 times/week, rather than only when we feel sore or tight, we begin to see growth and progress in our bodies, in our ability to hold and engage postures and our bolsters our health off the mat.
2. Can help us alleviate and gain insight into the roots of our stress and anxiety
1. If you’ve practiced yoga postures, breathing exercises or relaxation techniques you have more than likely tasted Yoga’s ability to alleviate stress and tension, as well as anchoring the mind from the incessant chatter of anxiety. Again, just as above, with the body, practicing when you are experiencing stress and anxiety will help to minimize the symptoms, however, when you steadily practice through the ups and downs of life your practice can become like a magnifying glass. As we slow down, taking time to breathe fully and deeply and align our focus with that breath and movement we begin to not only be participating in the experience, we begin to be the passive observer of our experience. First, physically, we begin to establish a dialogue with the body. We listen to its cues for when we have more space to explore or we’ve met our edge, when the body is stressed from a posture or we have more time to hold, etc… These insights help us to adapt our practice to OUR body. As our physical (more tangible) dialogue strengthens our mental and emotional dialogue becomes more available to us (for some, it may be the other way around). The same way we observe the body we learn to observe our thoughts and feelings. This is beneficial in creating room to see our thoughts and feelings not as something we are or have to react to, but rather as objects that continue to flow on by unless we choose to engage with them. This is no easy task, to be sure! However, a consistent Yoga practice creates the optimal environment to make this attainable!
3. Group classes are a great way to connect and build community
1. There is nothing like a personal Yoga practice as you learn to listen to your body and spirit’s cues for how to flow, hold, breathe, etc… However, a personal practice is void of other people. Practicing together in a group style helps to build a connection with other Yogis. There are all different types of folks that practice here at Razz; the dedicated yogi and the casual business practitioner, democrats and republicans, men, women and non-binary folks, wealthy and more working class…..the point being, that we are all here practicing together and sharing in our experience of Yoga. Yoga means to bring together two seemingly opposite faculties. I have personally witnessed people, myself included, have amazing conversations, discover hidden common interests, offer support to one another, etc…to types of people we may never encounter outside of the studio. Being exposed to so many different kinds of people and sharing in practice together is the perfect recipe to foster community and a deeper understanding of different perspectives in life. Some of my most enjoyable times here so far, have been the conversations before or after classes with the people I’ve just practiced with. The barriers we may hold up or ways in which we may avoid conversation or connection are temporarily softened or let go of after a practice and we are more able to let folks in, as well as reveal our own authentic nature.
4. Encourages an attitude of acceptance, positivity, and gratitude
1. One thing that sets Yoga practice apart from other forms of exercise or movement is the notion of beginning where we are at, without judgment, shame or guilt. This radical acceptance of self is the foundation of all positive thinking and gratitude. As we begin to accept our bodies, minds, hearts, and personalities just as they are gratitude cannot help but begin to manifest. We start to embrace and enjoy the body we are in rather than trying to chisel our ‘perfect’ self. We replace our thoughts of self-doubt, self-judgment and fear with self-confidence, self-love and courage. Gratitude and Acceptance together are the base of the triangle holding up Positivity. It becomes much easier to see or paint our experience in a positive light when we love where we’re at and are grateful for it. There becomes less and less of a focus on the negative, anxious or fear-based experiences in life, and instead that focus is placed on how to move forward, create something new or nourish the environment to encourage healing and positive change in your life.

These are just a few of the many, many benefits that come from a consistent Yoga practice. It can be challenging for sure, to adopt a consistent weekly practice, but hopefully, this blog has helped you to identify your own obstacles with that, as well as shed light onto some of the fruits of this practice. As always, though the proof is in the pudding! Our Monthly Renewal Membership is a great way to commit to a regular practice, and if you plan on attending more than 5 classes/month it is the most affordable route to take as well. Not only that, but our membership also gets you a few perks on top of unlimited classes:
• Free Access to events
• Discounts on Specialty Workshops
• 10% off Retail Prices
• One Free Weekly Buddy Pass/Month

If you’ve been wanting to commit to your practice in this way but have been on the fence about it, the next time you’re in the studio feel free to connect with any of the instructors or staff if you have any questions, or you can sign-up yourself on online by following this link:
https://www.razzyoga.com/rates/, once you’re there click the “Commit to your Practice” Link under our Membership section.

Hope to see you all on the mat!!!
Namaste,
-Peat

Coming up here soon at Razz, September 16th, Yogini Kali Om (Gabrielle Sulc, head instructor for the Hatha Raja Yoga Teacher Training at Razz) will be guiding a special 2 hour intensive workshop that was created by Sri Dharma Mittra.

If you have never taken a longer workshop type class, this would be a great one to get your feet wet with. You get a little sample of many of the practices of Hatha Yoga in one workshop. Don’t take my word for it though! I interviewed Gabrielle to get some more info about herself for community members at Razz that may have not met her yet, and to get the scoop on what to expect at this workshop.

1.) What led you to Yoga practice and how has it impacted your Life and those you interact with?

I don’t have any exciting story about how I started practicing yoga. It was by accident about 18 years ago. I used to work out and attend classes at a gym; one of the classes I took regularly was spinning. One day the instructor announced that the class would become 1/2 spinning, 1/2 yoga. I was really disappointed because I thought yoga was a waste of time. Still, I continued to go to the class and found I really liked the yoga part. Soon I was attending classes that were all yoga. And that was a big step for a competitive person like I was at the time.
  
  Yoga has altered my views on myself, others, and the world. For example, many years ago I was controlling, critical, and judgmental (of myself and others.) Of course I didn’t think it was a problem, it seemed normal. Over time these traits disappeared and now I seldom have a judgmental thought and if one occurs in my mind, I notice it and change my thinking.  Also, my yoga practice has helped me through some really difficult times. The ability to remain present and peaceful is a magnificent benefit.

2.)  In the description it says we will be practicing Hath Raja Yoga and you have also guided the Hatha Raja Yoga Teacher Training at Razz. Some community members haven’t tried that class yet. What do you find sets it apart from other styles of Yoga? What would someone hope to experience in a Hatha Raja Yoga practice?

Hatha Raja Yoga is a traditional description of the 8 limbs of yoga. Yoga involves more than just doing the poses and so these classes are designed to cultivate a meditative quality throughout the practice- even though the classes are physically challenging.  After the posture sequence there is a guided deep relaxation, followed by a calming breathing exercise, and the class concludes with a short meditation practice.

3.) What will you be sharing in the Maha Sadhana workshop? Who is this workshop a good fit for?

Maha Sadhana translates to “Great Practice.” Along with a challenging physical practice (that can be modified for most students as needed) I’ll be sharing some insights into yoga philosophy, breathing techniques to reduce stress, meditation practice, and a guided deep relaxation.

4.) It’s a much longer practice then our group classes? What do you find is valuable from a longer, more focused workshop like this?

Practicing longer than the typical 60-90 minutes allows me time to share a greater depth of knowledge and offer more experiences than I can in shorter times. For the students, greater time allows for integration of the practice into more subtle layers of the mind and body, and an opportunity to practice some aspects of yoga not usually shared in a typical public class.

5.) What do you hope students will take away (or leave behind 😉 ) from this workshop?

There is so much we can all leave behind but we don’t have to worry because the practice eliminates those things in time. I would like students to walk out of this workshop feeling fulfilled and inspired to live with a deep sense of satisfaction.

Om Shanti

Thank you Yogini Kali Om!!!

If you are interested in this workshop and would like to register
Click this link to head to our workshop page…

Workshops

Hopefully, I’ll see you there!!!
Namaste!
-Peat

By Keith Wise

Calling all parents, teachers, coaches, therapists, and caregivers! Radiant Child Yoga is coming to Razz this summer. Learn to teach kids yoga during this three-day workshop, July 10-12th from 8am-5pm.

These days, it seems that everyone is a little anxious. At the fast pace at which our lives move, it’s no wonder. We’re constantly managing daily stresses like work, bills, family and friend obligations, just to name a few. And if it’s difficult for adults to focus, imagine what it must be like for children. Being a kid today is tough for many reasons: the high levels of daily screen time, the increased rigor of education, the increased number of extracurriculars, etc. The bottom line is that today’s children are overextended and overstimulated. However, here at Razz Yoga, we have an opportunity for adults to help children manage this stress.

Radiant Child Yoga (RCY) was established as a formal teacher training program in 1999. Its founder, Shakta Khalsa, is a long-time kundalini teacher who began teaching children’s yoga in 1977 and has written several well-known yoga books. With more than 20 trainers worldwide, RCY has trained over 10,000 parents, teachers, therapists, grandparents, and caregivers in children’s yoga. As such, they are one of the most well-respected teacher training programs in the world.

Beth MacMullan, a Razz instructor, who teaches Hatha Raja yoga on Wednesdays at 5:30 pm and mixed level yoga on Saturdays at 8 am, finds that yoga can be a way to deal with child behavior issues and anxiety. She spends her days teaching at the Jemicy School in Owings Mills. “Some students complain that their hearts and minds are always racing,” she explains, “but doing yoga poses for a few minutes can be a way to relieve that stress.” If the students are in a geography lesson, then Beth will incorporate airplane pose to further engage them. In math, the students might count with frog jumps. She explains that yoga should be effectively incorporated into the day rather than act as a disruptive force.

However, Beth isn’t the only teacher turning to yoga to aid with instruction and behavior issues. RCY shared an article on their Facebook page describing one high school that has a 20-minute free period at the end of each day. Some students have opted to use that time to join one teacher for yoga. Though this isn’t enough time for an entire yoga class, the students spend several minutes in a few poses to really feel the stretch. Sometimes, the free period is student-driven, so that they get what they really want and need from the practice.

Yoga is a way for children to unwind after a stressful school day before they either go home to do homework or head off to extracurriculars or to sports practice. Several student-athletes have said that they perform quiet yoga before practice or games in order to maintain focus when the crowd, coaches, and teammates are cheering and yelling calls. Other athletes perform yoga after games or practice to stretch and decompress.

Beth says that yoga also has a way to pop-up in the classroom in non-traditional ways. “At Jemicy, we begin the day by having students set intentions,” she says. Rather than movement focussed, this yoga principle stems from mindfulness and meditation. At the end of the day, the teachers will allow their students time to rest and reflect. With this mindset, the entire school day becomes like one restorative and refreshing yoga practice.

Interested in learning more about kids yoga? Follow this link to register for RCY training:

https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/ws?studioid=197265&stype=-104&sTG=30&sVT=155&sView=day&sLoc=0&sTrn=100000075&date=07/10/18