Angela Farmer's Grounded in Gratitude Workshop @ Kripalu...WOW~!

After spending time with Angela Farmer for 4 magnificent days at Kripalu, I feel absolutely transformed and feel deeper in myself and in the practice of Living!

We traveled deep inside our bodies using breath, and learned how our organs feel and how they tend to glue to our bones, how to create more space inside to feel more peace within. This concept that Angela introduced to us, of "work-in", not "work-out" really left an indelible mark in me, and will probably affect my yoga forever!
The space created inside my body from the spiraling and internal "wringing" of the organs, learning to use the power of intention and rooting through the belly organs and growing ever-longer roots from my body, using the natural world as a metaphor for the body, and not being afraid to explore "un-asana" movements was so liberating, and honestly, felt very "Yogic" and authentic to me - a true expression of self.

The question of "What is Yoga?" is worth looking at, for every individual involved in conscious practice, at any given point in their journey. What are the roots of these asanas, pranayama practices, meditations, and chakra points? We can inquire inside of ourselves, become quiet, and REALLY begin to listen. Then, not being afraid to explore, try things out.

One of the workshop days, I spent time at the Kripalu Lakefront and walked to the water's edge, watching how the water lapped onto the shore against the fallen leaves, twigs, and pebbles. I watched the gentle lapping water against these objects and how it created a small vibratory ring in the water that echoed and widened out to the larger expanse of the lake. How far does this vibratory ring go, and how big does it get? Does it ever really go away? How beautiful, I thought, this example of the energy everything vibrates out into the larger sphere. This is part of our power, this energy we vibrate out. We can simply be sitting, standing, being, and we are HERE. Really, HERE. We don't have to DO anything.

Is there really a death? ... well, that was another conversation with a bunch of searching Yoginis, of which we don't have to go into too deeply, at least in this post.

So many gifts, so many gifts...