De West Yoga

Free Prenatal Yoga Classes at Learn it Live

2012-01-10T23:02:00.003-07:00

Hi All,
Spread the word to all the mothers to be you know! The first class starts Feb. 24th. It is easy to register and take classes. Check out my profile and classes at Learn it Live!

Recharge Class for Healing Your Core graduates

2012-01-09T16:35:00.003-07:00

Hi Friends,
If you have taken Healing Your Core course, now it is time to RECHARGE! We will meet tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan. 10 from 10-11:30am at the 3434 47th Street Studio to infuse you with the Healing Your Core exercises in a new light. See you there, only $15 and you can sign up on line at www.healingyourcore or pay with a check or cash when you come!

Laughing at 2012

2012-01-03T21:45:00.002-07:00

Bring Your Best Self Forward and if you forget, forgive yourself.

That is my motto for 2012. Because your best self is what you really are any way!

Healing Your Core Course starts Wednesday, January 4th at 6pm.

NEW Prenatal/Postpartum class starts at Studio Be Yoga this Thursday, Jan. 5th at noon.

Best,
De

De's Current Teaching Schedule for December 2011

2011-12-05T13:19:00.005-07:00

Hello Friends, Here is my December teaching schedule:

Monday: 9am-10am, Colorado Athletic Club, Ashtanga, All levels
Monday: 6pm-7:30pm, Studio Be Yoga, Flow, Intermediate

Tuesday: 7am-8am, Colorado Athletic Club, Warm Vinyasa, Level 1/2

Wednesday: 4:15-5:30pm, North Boulder Recreation Center, Prenatal/Postpartum

Thursday: Noon-1:15pm, STARTS IN JAN., Studio Be Yoga, Prenatal/Postpartum
Thursday: 5pm-6:15pm, Colorado Athletic Club, Alignment, All levels

Friday: 7am-8m, Colorado Athletic Club, Warm Vinyasa, Level 1/2
Friday: 8:50am-10:20am, North Boulder Recreation Center, Continuing Alignment

Saturday: 8:30am-9:45am, Studio Be Yoga, Flow, Intermediate
Saturday: 12:15pm-2pm, Studio Be Yoga, Restorative Yoga, I teach 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month.

Prenatal Yoga in Boulder, Colorado!

2011-10-23T20:03:00.002-06:00

I offer two Prenatal/Postpartum Yoga classes a week. Tuesdays I. Offer an innovative wall ropes Prenatal/Postpartum class from 5:45-7pm. See post below.

Wednesday's I offer a class at 4:15-5:30pm at the North Boulder Recreation Center. You can sign up for a series or drop on to this registered class as a visitor.

See you soon!

Retreat brings us closer to our hearts

2011-10-17T12:25:00.002-06:00

What an incredible experience. This Sunday, up in a private retreat home in Rollingsville, I chanted with a wonderful group of women. It was so nourishing. We smelled the marigold pushpamalas, the roses from our mother puja, rose incense, oils from our foot and temple massages and wonderful food smells from the kitchen. Thank you for the sounds from your heart; the chanting, the kirtan music, the wind and the wind chimes outside.

I feel closer to my heart and to all of you.

Hari Om.

Healing Your Core dates!

2011-10-03T23:05:00.006-06:00

We will offer two new times for my Healing Your Core course with Kristin Savory! Wednesday eves from 6-7:30pm, starting October 19th (4 week session on Wednesdays)
Tuesday mornings from 11-12:30pm, starting October 25th (also 4 week session)

This course heals diastasis, connects us you to your core and is proven to work! We use yoga and Chinese medicine and easy exercises to heal your belly.
email me at dewestyoga@yahoo.com

Prenatal/Postpartum Class on Tuesday's 5:45pm-7pm

2011-10-03T22:58:00.003-06:00

Hi Friends,
Please spread the word of this innovative Boulder Prenatal Yoga. I also opened this class to Postpartum students with babies pre-crawling. The address is 3434 47th Street, suite 105. It is on the corner of the Diagonal and 47th. Enter on the south side in plenty of well lighted parking. It is down the hall on the left. Beautiful, quiet studio where we use chairs, wall ropes, and also work on floor work.

Please spread the word!

Come to Day or Half Day Retreat in Mountains!

2011-10-03T13:38:00.003-06:00

We have opened up our Day Retreat to half day options. You can come all day or just the morning or just the evening.

Come for the whole day retreat (from 8am-8pm) for $175. You will get: brunch and dinner, 8 hours of yoga/chanting, 2 hour kirtan with Scott and Shanti Medina and Cheri Shanti.

If you decide to come for only half here are your options:
8am 3 hours of yoga asana practice and chanting
11:30-12:30 Brunch
12:30-1:45 Chanting/meditation

for $95

OR
2pm 3 hours yoga and chanting
5-6pm Dinner
6-8 Kirtan

Sign up today! Contact me at dewestyoga@yahoo.com

Yoga and Herbs Workshop this Sunday, Sept. 18th

2011-09-13T10:13:00.003-06:00

Yoga and Herbs:
Do you know what makes you, you? Do you know your constitution/dosha?
Come to this workshop with Helen Joffe and I and learn your constitution, smell&taste herbs/tea and practice yoga poses to balance yourself. This is an all levels workshop and beginners are welcome.

Sunday, September 18th from 2:30-5:30pm

You leave with a bag of tea to make lots of cups for this Fall. This is a very nourishing workshop...let's have tea!

2011-09-13T10:09:00.003-06:00

Here is my full updated FALL SCHEDULE

2011-09-13T10:00:00.004-06:00

Fall Schedule-Starting September 7th

Monday:
6pm-7:30pm~Studio Be Yoga~Intermediate Flow

Tuesday:
Privates~Purnam Wellness office
Prenatal/Postpartum (infants pre-crawling welcome) Yoga Class using Innovative Wall Ropes~
Starts September 20th,

Wednesday:
4:15pm-5:30pm~ North Boulder Recreation Center~Prenatal/Postpartum Yoga~
Starts September 14th

Thursday:
Privates~Purnam Wellness office

Friday:
8:50am-10:20am~NBRC~Continuing
Privates~Purnam Wellness office
4:30pm-6pm~Studio Be Yoga~Beginning Foundation

Saturday:
8:30am-9:45am ~ Studio Be Yoga~Intermediate Flow
12:15pm-2:00pm~Studio Be Yoga~Restorative
(1st and 3rd Saturday's of the month)
Privates~Purnam Wellness office

**** My private office, Purnam Wellness, is in North Boulder, call or email me to schedule****303-818-2169, dewestyoga@yahoo.com

_________________________________

Colorado Athletic Club Schedule:
Monday:
9am~Ashtanga Vinyasa

Tuesday:
7am~Warm Vinyasa 1/2

Thursday:
5pm~Alignment all levels

Friday:
7am~Warm Vinyasa 1/2

Free Abdominal Split (Diastasis) checks tonight!

2011-08-22T14:03:00.002-06:00

Hi Everyone,
I am offering Free Diastasis Recti (abdominal split) checks tonight at Studio Be Yoga (2077 30th Street) from 7:30-8pm.

Any person can have the injury, but often pregnancy can create it. You can also have this condition if you use your abdominal muscles incorrectly or lack of understanding of how to use them correctly.

Some women have had this condition for years and wondered why they didn't feel connected to their center and why their belly still looked pregnant.

The check only takes a few minutes and it will give you information on what you can do to heal this area and what you should avoid.

Please spread the word!

Current Schedule

2011-08-11T00:03:00.002-06:00

Hi All,
Here is my current schedule with Colorado Athletic Club separate since you need to be a member there.

Monday: 6-7:30 pm Intermediate Flow-Studio Be Yoga
Saturday: 8:30-9:45 am Intermediate Flow-Studio Be Yoga
Saturday: 1st and 3rd Saturday's of the month, 12:15-2 pm Restorative Yoga at Studio Be Yoga

See the CAC website for my current 4 classes there!

I hope we cross paths soon.

I will post my full Fall schedule soon.

New offerings-back on the wagon!

2011-08-10T23:54:00.002-06:00

I have a number new offerings/changes coming up this Fall!!

Workshops:
September 18th Yoga & Herbs at Studio Be Yoga, 2:30-5:30 pm
September 21st Healing Your Core at 3434 47th street, suite 105, 6-7:30pm
October 16th Yoga & Chant Day Retreat in Rollingsville, 8am-8pm

New classes starting after Labor Day:
Friday's at Studio Be Yoga, 4:30-6pm, Beginning Foundation
Tuesday's Prenatal/Postpartum Yoga 5:45-7pm at 3434 47th street, suite 105 (starts September 20th)

New time:
Prenatal/Postpartum at North Boulder Recreation Center, starts September 14, Wednesday's from 4:15-5:30pm, register OR drop in!

Third Annual Prenatal Postpartum Yoga Training and Intensive

2011-03-04T14:13:00.004-07:00

Are you interested in exploring the world of mindful and informed prenatal and postpartum yoga? Our prenatal yoga intensive brings it all together, from intelligent use of asana to childbirth education to the anatomy of the pelvis. The intensive is open to women at any stage in their motherhood journey, as well as to caregivers and yoga instructors who are already working with (or want to work with) the prenatal and postpartum community. Join us for an exploration and celebration of the emergence of mind, body, and spirit.

By bringing midwives, doctors, doulas, nurses, body therapists, and yoga teachers together, students will get an experience of the power of interconnected care. Focusing primarily on the tenets of yoga, our intensive will inspire us to empower all women to listen to the wisdom of their own bodies.

Safe and therapeutic asanas and sequences for each trimester and postpartum.
Class plans for every trimester and postpartum.
Over a dozen experts sharing their teachings on childbirth education, health and yoga.
Discussion of anatomical, physiological, and psychological changes in pregnancy.
Sanskrit chanting and learning the proper pronunciation of asana names.
Students will receive certificate upon completion.
30 course hours can be used towards continuing education credit for Yoga Alliance.

http://www.yogaworkshop.com/schedule/prenatal_intensive.php

Introduction to Yoga Class

2011-03-02T12:49:00.003-07:00

Introduction to Yoga Class with De West

Saturday, March 5, 3-5:30pm - $25
At Studio Be Yoga in Boulder

Have you wanted to bring yoga into your life and schedule, but not sure where to start?

This class will:

-Give you a jump start to begin regular classes.
-Introduce you to 2-3 poses from each family of poses.
-Give you two 15 minute sequences to take home to practice

For more information and to register, email De at dewestyoga@yahoo.com or phone me at 303-818-2169.

Ashtanga- Primary Series

2011-01-23T15:11:00.004-07:00

Come join me leading a group through the Primary Series of Ashtanga Yoga.
Feb. 5, from 1:30-3:30 at The Colorado Athletic Club. Members are free and non-members are $20.
All levels are welcome! Everyone us welcome!

2011

2011-01-09T12:03:00.001-07:00

Through The Seasons New Year's Card

For hundreds of holiday card designs, click here.

View the entire collection of cards.

New Fall Schedule and Events!

2010-11-02T10:31:00.004-06:00

Here is my Fall Schedule for all the locations I teach. This is effective starting November 1st, 2010.

Studio Be Schedule
Monday 6-7:30pm Flow/Intermediate
Friday 4:30-6pm Flow/All Levels
Saturday 8:30-9:45am Flow/Intermediate
Saturday noon-1:15pm Prenatal/Postpartum (babies up to crawling welcome)

City of Boulder-North Boulder Recreation Center
Wednesday 5:30-7pm Prenatal/Postpartum (babies up to crawling welcome)
Friday 8:50-10:20am Beginning/Continuing

Colorado Athletic Club
Monday 9-10am (November only) Ashtanga
Tuesday 7-8am Warm Vinyasa/Level one
Wednesday 9-10am Vinyasa/Level two
Thursday 5-6:15pm Alignment/All Levels
Friday 7-8am Warm Vinyasa/Level two

Upcoming Events:

November 25th, Thanksgiving, Special Class at Colorado Athletic Club from 11-12:15pm
December 5th, Women's Body Stories: Writing and Yoga Workshop, Studio Be Yoga from 2-5:45pm

Favorite Quote:

"Let your eyes be like flowers, blossoming." B.K.S. Iyengar

We are Famous! Women's Body Stories Video!

2010-07-02T00:21:00.002-06:00

Here is our short video about our upcoming writing and yoga workshop! Check it out!

Still Space

2010-05-25T15:53:00.002-06:00

Still Space Available For June 5th Labyrinth and Yoga One Day Retreat!

Dear Friends,
I have 4 spots available for our one day retreat up Boulder Canyon on June 5th! The workshop is from 12-5 and it is only a 30 minute drive away to walk the labyrinth and do yoga. Our group will be small, just 14 people! Here is the information below.

Step into the Great Mystery
June 5th from 12-5pm

Join us up Boulder Canyon (just a 30 minute drive) to a fantastic getaway day retreat! We will walk the labyrinth first in silence, then do a gentle yoga practice with some breathing exercises and chanting, take a second walk of the labyrinth with sound and end with some yummy raw snacks! Schedule a special day for yourself! Only $75. Please email me at dewestyoga@yahoo.com to reserve your spot!

Prenatal Yoga Intensive was amazing!

2010-04-27T20:27:00.003-06:00

Click on the title to read about the recent Prenatal Yoga Intensive! Thank you all for coming, sharing and practicing!

Creativity and Yoga with Cynthia Morris and De West on You Tube!

2010-03-19T21:44:00.003-06:00

Here is my very first You Tube video. I co-created with my dear friend Cynthia Morris! Let me know what you think!
Start those creative juices flowing!

Cultivating the Spirit of Arrival

2010-03-16T21:54:00.002-06:00

Cultivating the Spirit of Arrival
Pregnancy Workshop with De West
Preparing for a baby requires
that we mentally, physically
and spiritually cultivate the
spirit of arrival. In this
workshop we will soak in the
practices that yoga, chanting
and meditation offer us to
positively enrich, nourish and
support us through this
entrance or re-entrance into
motherhood. We will practice
together sequences that you
will be able to take home for
your own practice.
Sunday, March 28, 2010 ~ 2-4pm ~ Cost: $20
For more information and to register, email De at
dewestyoga@yahoo.com or phone her at 303-818-2169
De’s classes feature dynamic flowing sequencing, attention to alignment
and a strong emphasis on re-awakening our innate curiosity about
ourselves and our world. Her teaching is grounded in keen observation and
knowledge of the body and a love of the yoga tradition. It is De's vision to
bring yoga to all pregnant women and to help others to build their birthing
communities. De’s favorite teachers are her husband Stephen, and their
daughter, Anahata

My schedule!

2010-03-16T21:35:00.001-06:00

Many of you have asked for me to share with you my teaching schedule again. So here it is. I am very excited at the depth and variety of teaching (and locations) that I will have available.

I will also be offering many workshop opportunities in 2010 at The Yoga Workshop and Studio Be. Please continue to check their websites and I will send you notices via newsletters.

This Spring I will again teach the Prenatal Yoga Teacher Intensive! Please spread the word to caregivers, pregnant mothers or yoga students that are interested in the field of Yoga and Pregnancy/Postpartum care! There will be an incredible group of women gathered to teach it again. Dates are April 22-25th.

Namaste,
De

North Boulder Recreation Center
3170 Broadway, Boulder, CO

Tuesday:
10am-11:30am
Continuing
*childcare available

Wednesday: 5:30pm-7pm
Prenatal/Postpartum

Friday:
8:50am-10:20am
Beginning
*childcare available

Drop in passes are available

Studio Be:

2077 30th Street
Boulder, CO

Monday:
9am-10:30am
Beginner Foundation

Monday:
6pm-7:30pm Intermediate Flow

Tuesday:
6pm -7:30pm
Beginner Foundation

Friday:
4:30pm-6pm
All Levels Flow

Saturday:
Noon-1:15pm
Prenatal/Postpartum

Colorado Athletic Club

1821 30th Street
Boulder, CO

Tuesday:
7am-8:15am
Warm Vinyasa
Level 1/2

Wednesday:
Noon-1:15pm
Vinyasa
Level 1/2

Thursday:
5pm-6:15pm
Advanced Alignment
Level 2/3

Prenatal Intensive is LIVE!

2010-02-03T20:39:00.002-07:00

Hello Everyone,
The Prenatal information is now live at www.yogaworkshop.com

The dates are April 22-25th. I hope you can join me and a dozen other presenters!

Winter Newsletter!

2010-02-01T14:08:00.003-07:00

Click on Winter Newsletter and you will go to my Newsletter. The following article is from the newsletter!

Building your Immunity with Your Yoga Practice

Using supported and inverted poses can help with circulation of your lymphatic system. Lymph is a fluid that moves through the body picking up bacteria and viruses and filtering them out of the body via the lymph nodes.

Physical exercise, such as yoga, is key for keeping the lymph moving by using muscular contractions. The movement of lymph is also affected by gravity, so any time your go upside down the lymph moves to the respiratory organs, and when you return to an upright position, gravity drains the lymph, sending it through your lymph nodes for cleansing.

Try these poses to build your immunity:

* Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog) with your head on a bolster.

* Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend) with your head on a chair or blocks.

* Prasarita Padottanasana (Wide Leg Forward Bend) with your head on a chair or blocks.

* Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Bridge Shoulderstand) with a block or bolster under the sacrum.

Women's Body Stories

2010-01-14T23:24:00.004-07:00

Hello My Friends,
Please come join me and my life coach, Cynthia Morris, on March 7th for an incredible workshop, Women's Body Stories. Check it out below:
www.studiobeyoga.com/pages/workshops_specialevents2.html

Extend/Expand

2010-01-09T15:24:00.002-07:00

As yoga practitioners many of us know to extend our physical asana and postures. But the real work comes from expanding from our dynamic core to our skin. From the core to the periphery and then that informs back to our core.

Sit with your arms reaching out to your sides. Reach your arms out making the muscles and bones long, yet active. Extend.

Now reach you arms again and imagine that you are reaching from the ocean of your heart to the rivers of your arms and to the smaller rivers of your fingers. Radiate like the sun from your center out to your skin. Focus on the cylindrical energy of your arms. Expand!

"If extending is from the intelligence of your brain, than expanding is from the intelligence of the heart." BKS Iyengar

Correct Link-check it out

2009-12-30T14:29:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite blogs...check it out!

http://www.elanaspantry.com/cookbook

Gluten Free and Yummy!

2009-12-30T14:26:00.001-07:00

Check out this website/blog for yummy recipes and tips!

http://www.elanaspantry.com

This week I'll be giving away The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook and a 5lb bag of Almond Flour from Honeyville. To be entered into this Holiday Deluxe Giveaway follow these 3 steps:

1. create a blog or Facebook post mentioning this giveaway
2. in your post link back to The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook page (http://www.elanaspantry.com/cookbook/), if you like you can also add an almond flour recipe (of mine, yours, or someone else's) to your post, but that's entirely optional
3. leave a comment below with a link to your blog post or Facebook page by January 11th so that I know you entered the contest! If you win, I'd be happy to sign your book

New Year's Day

2009-12-29T19:19:00.003-07:00

How do we veil ourselves? What is your ultimate potential? We plan to explore these questions in the New Year's Day practice for all levels at Studio Be Yoga from 10-11:45am. I will be co-teaching this class with Michelle Anderson to ring in the New Year. We will start with some chanting together and move through a practice to explore the past to discover the present moment. I hope you can join us.

My 2010 Schedule

2009-12-08T15:05:00.002-07:00

Lots of Choices for 2010!
Teaching Schedule for 2010

Many of you have asked for me to share with you my January 2010 teaching schedule. So here it is. I am very excited at the depth and variety of teaching (and locations) that I will have available.

I will also be offering many workshop opportunities in 2010 at The Yoga Workshop and Studio Be. Please continue to check their websites and I will send you notices via newsletters.

This Spring I will again teach the Prenatal Yoga Teacher Intensive! Please spread the word to caregivers, pregnant mothers or yoga students that are interested in the field of Yoga and Pregnancy/Postpartum care! There will be an incredible group of women gathered to teach it again. I am firming up plans but it looks like it will be in April.

Thank you in advance and hope to see you soon and again in 2010!

Namaste,
De

North Boulder Recreation Center
3170 Broadway, Boulder, CO

Tuesday:
10am-11:30am
Continuing
*childcare available

Wednesday: 5:30pm-7pm
Prenatal/Postpartum

Friday:
8:50am-10:20am
Beginning
*childcare available

Drop in passes are available
Join Our Mailing List

Studio Be:

2077 30th Street
Boulder, CO

Monday:
9am-10:30am
Beginner Foundation

Monday:
6pm-7:30pm Intermediate
Flow

Tuesday:
6pm -7:30pm
Beginner Foundation

Friday:
4:30pm-6pm
All Levels Flow
Friday Afternoon Club

Saturday:
Noon-1:15pm
Prenatal/Postpartum

Colorado Athletic Club

1821 30th Street
Boulder, CO

Tuesday:
7am-8:15am
Warm Vinyasa
Level 1/2

Wednesday:
Noon-1:15pm
Vinyasa
Level 1/2

Thursday:
5pm-6:15pm
Advanced Alignment
Level 2/3

*If you are not a member of the club you can still drop in to the yoga classes!

Introducing Purnam Wellness:

Stephen and I have joined together to create Purnam Wellness. Purnam means whole or perfect. We will be kicking off our website this new year!

I have been offering private yoga therapy in Boulder since 2001. I offer sessions working on various issues including building home practice sequences to balance heath issues, digestive health, and muscular/skeletal challenges.

I offer a number of sessions times a week in our quiet office in North Boulder. I also am available for group or private sessions at other locations.

Call or email me to schedule yourself or give the gift of wellness for the holidays!
303-818-2169
dewestyoga@yahoo.com

First the Laundry, then the Laundry

2009-11-17T21:19:00.002-07:00

How can this statement be a metaphor for our yoga practice. As a mother it seems the laundry never ends. When I think it is "done", more comes. If I think that I "do" the pose, I am missing the point of the practice. Yoga practice never ends. Do your practice now. Be in the present moment, there will be more laundry later.

Charting

2009-10-30T20:02:00.001-06:00

In my class today a student asked for a chart of a sequence like I have given before. You can chart any class or section of a class yourself by taking notes or drawing stick figures to record what you experience. Try it after your next class!

Potty Dance

2009-10-22T15:23:00.003-06:00

Asanas for Fall

2009-10-22T15:11:00.001-06:00

Asanas for Fall
In Chinese Medicine, Fall is the season for the organ pair, lung and large intestine. Looking at the function of these organs our lungs are responsible for bringing oxygen (Prana) into the blood through the breath and removing carbon dioxide. The large intestine is the organ of elimination. It reabsorbs fluid from food stuffs in the final passage before elimination. The end of the colon is part of the pelvic floor providing support for mula bandha.

This organ pair also has emotional and spiritual qualities. The lungs positive qualities are lightness, buoyancy, and contentment (santosha). They also represent being emotionally available and full of hope and optimism. The negative qualities of the lungs are grief, suffering, low self-esteem as well as sadness and depression. The large intestines positive qualities include the ability to let go of what is not needed, non-clinging (aparigrhaha) and an overall fluid quality at our base. On the shadow side, the large intestine reflects clinging, hoarding, unable to let go. Being unable to move and change direction in life, a slowness or sluggishness in action and thought can also show up.

Our yoga practice can help with this season of change. Sunsalutes, twists, gentle back bends and inversions can all help re-align us this Fall. Pranayama practices can also support the lungs to stay stretched from the inside. It is more about the intention we put forth with the asana than the asana itself. Think about what message you want the asana to tell your cells.

Pictured here is Jatara Parivartanasana, revolved abdomen pose. It is wonderful when you use a bolster to support the legs to practice letting go while feeling the deep layers of the abdomen. You can focus on reaching the chest open and taking deep breaths opening up to staying fluid throughout your whole being. twist

Put the bolster off to one side of your legs. Bend your knees close to your chest in a tight fold, spread your toes. Turn your abdomen to lay your legs on the bolster, keeping your feet active, release your legs. Stretch your arms wide and investigate what turning your head away from your legs does for your chest. Take deep breaths, focusing on the exhale.

Wearing a Dress

2009-10-15T19:56:00.003-06:00

Trying to get back to it.

2009-10-15T00:31:00.000-06:00

Wow, has it really been since April since I blogged? I can't believe it. Well, here I go, trying to get back to it regularly.

Anahata is now two and a half. We decided not to take over ownership of The Yoga Workshop and we are figuring out what 2010 will hold for us. It has been a full year of new experiences and hard lessons. I feel better for all of it.

I will keep the blog posted of upcoming events! Soon to be announced!

Love,
De

Anahata and Jiji dance

2009-04-23T12:34:00.003-06:00

So Much Has Happened

2009-02-28T22:38:00.002-07:00

Wow, it has been a while since I have blogged. So much has been happening. Stephen and I were asked by our teachers to take over management and ownership of their studio, The Yoga Workshop, here in Boulder. We have been busy since July, when they asked us, with all kinds of details to make it a smooth transition. It has been the biggest yoga practice I have ever experienced thus far. Hopefully more on this later.
Practice and all is coming!
Hari Om,
De

The Little Nutcracker

2009-02-28T22:05:00.002-07:00

Down Dog and Milky

2008-11-17T20:52:00.003-07:00

Climbing and Falling

2008-07-31T16:10:00.003-06:00

Buddha Baby

2008-07-10T10:34:00.004-06:00

This video clip says it all. Little Anahata is quite a heart baby these days. Here she shows her affection for the Buddha statue.

Elephant Ride

2008-06-24T13:05:00.002-06:00

Anahata takes a ride

2008-06-23T12:32:00.005-06:00

Anahata takes a ride and teaches us about enjoying the ride, getting back on and re-directing when you hit an obstacle. Now all we need is a stuffed Ganesh and a wooden horsie to try it out ourself!

2008-05-27T15:05:00.007-06:00

Upcoming Events

June 26th
COMFORTABLE BACKBENDS
Therapeutic Yoga Workshop

The Yoga Workshop
2020 21st Street, Boulder
2-3:45pm
Drop in for $14 or use punch card

http://www.yogaworkshop.com/

Yoga & Art: Empower & Refresh

With De West & Sue Hammond-West

Humans are designed to

be a force of nature, empowered,

to enjoy the senses, to be fulfilled with ease.

This workshop focuses on refreshing our empowerment.

Yoga stimulates the sensibilities, awakens our nervous system, refreshes our minds, calms.

The practice of art heightens our ability to see our essential inner lives. From painting quietly, healing images emerge and our self unfolds empowered anew.

August 2, Saturday, 9-5

August 3, Sunday, 9-5

Naropa, Nalanda Campus, Boulder, CO $195/$50 deposit
Only room for 15 students, NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED-WE WILL MENTOR YOU WHERE YOU ARE
register early to secure your spot!
Email De at dewestyoga@yahoo.com

Current Teaching Schedule

2008-05-27T15:00:00.002-06:00

Tuesday: 9:30-11:00am Prenatal/Postparum
The Yoga Workshop

Thursday: 5:30-7:15pm
Level 1, Form & Foundation
The Yoga Workshop

Friday: 8:50-10:20am
Beginning Yoga Class
North Boulder Recreation Center
Child Care Available

Saturday: 4:00-5:15pm
Mixed Levels, Vinyasa
The Yoga Workshop

Sunday : 7:30-9:15am
Level 2, Form & Foundation
The Yoga Workshop

Using a Water Bottle?

2008-05-26T10:54:00.002-06:00

The other day, I did it, the full primary series. It has a been a long while since I pulled out the water bottle to spray my legs to get my arms through my lotus posture and roll my body back and forth around in a circle (garbha pindasana). But my intention was to stay focused, breathe and do the whole primary series. All the jump backs, all the chakarasana's, even setu bandasana. I felt cleansed afterward. I felt sore afterward. I felt like I could do anything afterward.

Even though it was FAR from "perfect" in form, I felt a calm come over me.

Breathe and move......Vinyasa yoga!

Distracting?

2008-05-07T21:37:00.003-06:00

Okay, this photo is of when I was pregnant over a year ago, but it is the only one I have on file of me all propped up. For those of you who come to my public classes you know I love to use props. Not just to use them, but to teach something of value. For this same reason I love to practice with them. They are my teacher.

This morning, after 5 days of the stomach virus, I got a chance to go to the studio and practice. I went to The Yoga Workshop, my second home, and did morning "mysore" practice. "Mysore" refers to a place in Southern India and to a specific sequence of poses done in a room with a teacher who assists you through out your practice. You go at your own pace so everyone in the room is at a different part of the sequence.

I start with the sunsalutes, all the standing sequence.........then I start to think about my twisting workshop this Sat. and do some exploratory positions on the wall. Then I pull out the HUGE backbender and do a few poses there to open my spine and hips. Then I decide I better not use all my energy before 9 am, I still have the whole day with my toddler! So I do a long shoulderstand with the chair, strap and bolster and a reclining pose to open the lungs and rest the legs (supta virasana) on the heart bench. ( a cool wood structure that opens the chest) Then relaxation pose.(corpse) on the heart bench also.

Okay, now the point. I am thinking afterwards that my practice with the props may be distracting to others. (Very few props are used in the Ashtanga practice. But, I think again, wouldn't someone with stinky feet or a loud breath also be distracting? Can't we just practice and trust that the teacher and the student will make the right choices in the moment to support that student?

Seva and the Stomach Flu

2008-05-06T17:27:00.003-06:00

It started on Friday. Anahata came down with a stomach virus. Lots of bodily fluids. You don't even think about how gross it is. You clean it up and serve. Wow, no one mentioned this part when I was pregnant or loving up my newborn. But, here it is!

Saturday morning I am not feeling so well. I stay in bed in the morning and by noon, I am emptied of all of my fluids. Anahata is still sick and will pretty much only ingest breast milk. So I do what any mother would do and has done, serve.

Saturday night Stephen comes down with it. He spends most of Sunday resting. Anahata is still sick but picking up a bit of steam.

Monday we lay low. Anahata is still sick but eating a little and I re-schedule my Tuesday morning but keep my plans to go to a yoga class for the evening.

Tuesday starts out good but after Anahata's nap more fluids are flying. I am still not 100% and I cancel my Tue. eve plans go for a walk with my sweet daughter. I wipe her forehead and do another load of laundry. This is hard work this mothering job!

So, send a lot of love your mothers way this weekend. We don't even realize how much they have served us and how much they love us that they would do anything for us!

Happy Mother's Day!

Great Spirit-The Eagle

2008-04-29T20:34:00.004-06:00

Yesterday Anahata and I went for a walk near our home. On the trail we saw a man and a woman on bikes stopped off to the side. The man was looking up, the other biker was on her cell phone. Of course I looked up also to see what he was looking at. A majestic bird, up quite high, in full wing span flew over my head. Next, the man yells, "watch out, he dropped it!" Not knowing what was happening or where "it" was I moved forward a little quicker. I then heard a loud thud behind us.

A falling prairie dog. The sky wasn't falling, but a prairie dog was. The man said it was an eagle and that he was glad he was there and said something or it would have hit us. I asked him, "how close was it?" He responded, "very close!". I walked on a bit dazed, but not too terribly freaked out. I was looking for the meaning of it all.

I called my sister in law, Sue West. She had an animal book with meanings of these kind of things. This is what her resource said. What a message!

The Eagle is a representation of the Great Spirit. It is of the realm of spirit and of the realm of earth. Take heart and gather your courage the universe is giving you the opportunity to soar above the mundane level of your life. Broaden your sense of self beyond the horizon of what is presently visible. Attack your personal fear of the unknown. Love the shadow as well as the light, to see beauty in both and take flight like the eagle.

Peace is Every Step

2008-04-22T15:50:00.002-06:00

For the last three nights, my daughter has woke up in the middle of the night, screaming. Those of you who are parents have been there. Those of you that are not parents, you might be able to relate to this by imagining what is was like for friends, family or your parents. It is terrifying.

Anahata is only 1 year and so far can only sign, "milky". So telling us what is wrong is out of the question. With tears down her eyes, her little back arching and her crying loudly, she tries to communicate that something is wrong. Stephen and I are challenged to speak and listen to one another as we panic. We wonder if we should be heading to the emergency room as we helplessly trade her off to comfort her and flip through our pediatric health book. I wonder if the piece of yoga mat she ate earlier today is lodged in her intestines or if the eucalyptus oil I used in the bath and on her bed is burning her skin and nostrils.

The more we panic, the louder she cries. After singing, "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and dancing with her in a circle, Stephen hands her off while I try to comfort her. I decide to calm down and really listen to her. I try to connect on a level of intuition. I am quiet. Peaceful. I breathe in and out. Soon she is quiet too. She takes my breast and starts to fall asleep. I stay here on the couch for another 10 minutes or so. Then we go to bed.

Peace is every step. It is every moment. Present moment. Wonderful moment. Even in our fear.

I thank Thich Nhat Hanh for his wisdom and inspiration.

Rejuvenate this Spring

2008-04-21T17:40:00.002-06:00

April 26th at 2-3:45 I will teach the Rejuvenate/Restore Yoga class at The Yoga Workshop.

For more information you can scroll down to prior postings or go to www.yogaworkshop.com

Sraddha=Faith

2008-04-07T11:37:00.002-06:00

Just 1 year and 1 day ago a huge blessing came into this world. Our daughter, Anahata, was born! The journey to that day and the journey to today was a huge leap of faith, sraddha. In 2004, I found out that I had three large tumors on my ovaries. They had to be removed because of the risk of them rupturing or twisting my ovaries and damaging my ability to have children. So, 6 weeks before my wedding I decided to have open abdominal surgery to remove them. It was supposed to be a 1 1/2 hour surgery, it took over 4 hours. When I came to, my doctor told me that we would have to see if I went into menopause since over 1/2 of each ovary had to be removed. I prayed. I chanted. I believed I would be able to have a baby, to not go into early menopause. I had faith that what ever happened it was a journey into the unknown.

4 weeks to the day after my surgery I had my cycle. I celebrated like it was my first cycle! About 4 months after that, with a clear bill of health, we decided to start trying to get pregnant. We did about 1 year later, but lost the baby soon after finding out that we were pregnant. So, back to the faith! After another year, we got pregnant again and then our sweet Anahata came to us on April 6, 2007.

In Pantanjali's Yoga Sutras, 1:20, Pantanjali writes, "Wholeness is preceded by faith, energy, mindfulness, union, and awareness. " We need to have faith in the process, the practice, the outcome, the teacher, and the yoga. Faith is made up of trust in ourselves and trust in the experience of life working out. Faith is the williness to step forward with no guarantee that we won't fall. The mystery of the universe and our existence in it demands faith in all that we do.

Cheers to Faith........Sraddha!

DE'S SCHEDULE

2008-03-26T16:50:00.003-06:00

CURRENT SCHEDULE:
Tuesday: 9:30-11am Prenatal/Postpartum class at The Yoga Workshop
Thursday: 5:30-7:15am Level 1/Form&Foundation at The Yoga Workshop
Friday: 8:50-11:20am Beginning at North Boulder Recreation Center
Saturday: 4:00-5:15pm Mixed Levels/Vinyasa at The Yoga Workshop
Sunday: 7:30-9:15am Level 2/Form&Foundation at The Yoga Workshop
UPCOMING EVENTS:
March 29th: Restore/Rejuvenate at The Yoga Workshop, 2pm
April 11th: Subbing for Richard at The Yoga Workshop, 5:30pm
April 26th: Restore/Rejuvenate at The Yoga Workshop, 2pm

Rejuvenate

2008-03-26T11:49:00.002-06:00

This Saturday at The Yoga Workshop I will be teaching a special Rejuvenate/Restore class from 2-3:45. I hope you can come experience the peace of this class. http://www.yogaworkshop.com/

Ring the Bell

2008-03-25T21:20:00.003-06:00

Anahata starts early with ringing the bell. When we hear the bell we can stop and breathe. We can stop and listen. We can be present in the here and now. At any age we can practice!

Sanskrit Lesson

2008-03-16T12:36:00.002-06:00

To learn a chant in sanskrit, the tradition is to have a teacher chant a line, then you repeat it back. It is an oral tradition and we often don't have it written out for us to read. So, repeat after me.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

(Say it like you feel good, Like ahhhhhhh this massage feels great, ahhhhhhhh what a beautiful sunrise, ahhhhhhhhh what a cute baby, you get it now.)

Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa (like Nah)

Ha Ha Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Ta Ta Taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa (strong T sound like "Tea" not Da)

Now put it all together. Ahhhhhhhhnaaaaaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaaaataaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

So it is not:

Ann A Hata
nor is it
Anahaddddda ( not hello madda, hello fadda here is my daughter anahaddddda)

Anahata.
It means, heart center or from the heart. If you think about it coming from your heart your eyes will soften and an inward smile comes.

Thank you for the lesson today.

Spring Cleaning

2008-03-15T19:26:00.006-06:00

So.......I am a winner. I won a 10 week makeover. A transformation of choice. I wrote an essay when Anahata was 10 weeks old to win a makeover offered by women entrepreneurs in Boulder County. Ten women would win 10 weeks of services based on their goals, what they wanted to transform in their life. At the time I wrote the essay I was so overwhelmed with the change that the first baby brings to a family. Being sleep deprived a massage and spa treatments sounded heavenly.

Well, I won and the makeover started about 5 weeks ago. One of the areas I wanted to transform was "my stacks". Being a visual person, I like to have things out to remind me to do them, or in my case now, to have them accessible when I have time. So I have stacks. Four or five of them. There was a Professional Organizer with the makeover, so I decided to get some help.

In yoga philosophy there is the 8 limbs of yoga. The first limb is the yamas or observances the second limb is the niyamas or disciplines. The first niyama is sauca or cleanliness. I knew if my space had some order my mind might be able to follow along. Simplify. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

The professional organizer, Liz, came over last week. I was nervous. To show her my stacks and my closet seemed exciting and overwhelming! She came to the door and we spoke a while then she asked for a tour of our home. We went to one end of my home and we started.

"What do you like about this room? What works? What is in there?(pointing to a closet). What are all those boxes, that stack of papers, the stack of books.............?????" After one room I wanted to curl up and stop! But we continued on. Next some hall closets, a small bathroom, Anahata's room and her closet, the living room, kitchen (including the cabinets), the laundry room, the master bedroom and my closet and the master bath. Opening up cabinet after cabinet and closet after closet the same thing kept coming up, DISORDER! It was laugh or cry. I laughed.

We sat down and started to go through one of my stacks. Piece by piece of paper. We came up with a plan that made sense and I agreed to get what I needed to start on that project and we used the remainder of our time clearing out the first room of all the clutter to make room for my sister visiting this next week. We schlepped out items to the shed, took things to the curb (that were all taken to be reused by others) and threw out or recycled the trash items. In 2 hours time I felt like a spring cleaning plan had started to unfold. I don't feel overwhelmed by my stacks or junk, but inspired to simplify and apply yoga to my closets!

I have started a plan for my stacks and only have one stack yet to go through. I have started my closet after walking in there multiple times, looking around, feeling overwhelmed and walking out and I am ready to start on one project at a time and get through it!

Stay tuned for more on this. She is coming again in April!

Schedule and Upcoming Events

2008-03-11T20:48:00.011-06:00

Is Goodnight Moon a Yoga Book?

2008-03-09T11:14:00.005-06:00

I read this book every night to my daughter. After a recent conversation with my friend Mary I started to contemplate why is this book, Goodnight Moon, a classic? Why is it "timeless"? It is so simple. Almost too simple. It starts out noticing parts of a room. Then it says goodnight to parts of the room.

Like yoga practice. We take notice. We become aware of our room. We come into our body like we come into a room. We come into the present moment by noticing, becoming aware and taking our attention to different parts of our body and our breath.

Like yoga practice. We say goodnight to our body parts, our yoga practice and even our breath in Savasana, the corpse pose.

Goodnight!

Women's Body Stories

2008-03-08T21:17:00.002-07:00

We had an amazing journey today at the Women's Body Stories workshop. 16 women of all ages, shapes, sizes, backgrounds and stories came together today. We practiced postures, breathing, listening and writing. We shared some of what we wrote in a circle. We laughed, cried, felt connected in our sisterhood. Thank you all you wonderful women and for those of you who couldn't come..........write!

My Guru Anahata

2008-03-08T09:01:00.003-07:00

This is my sweet daughter, Anahata. She is my movement teacher nowdays. My friend and yoga teacher, Kimberly, asked me what is informing and inspiring my practice and teaching lately. Well, this video says it all. The way she moves her hips, organizes her crawling and how she gets around. It is art. It is the most beautiful movement I have seen. I often get down on the floor and say, "let me try that".

This weekend workshop

2008-03-07T15:11:00.003-07:00

Women's Body Stories: A writing and yoga workshop
This Saturday, March 8th, 12-4pm
Boulder Circus Center, located in North Boulder

Hello Blog

2008-03-07T15:01:00.002-07:00

Hello Blog,
Well, here I go. It was suggested by some wonderful women in the "how to get your information out there field" to do a blog. It makes sense to me. I get to share what I love about yoga and keep my friends up to date on current classes and workshop offerings. I have had fun on picking out colors, photos and what to post. Hello Blog! Hello World! Hello Yoga!