 Stretching
Are you back in the office after a well deserved holiday vacation? Already catching yourself hunched over and holding tension in your upper back? Our bodies weren't made for long hours sitting at desks and looking at screens - yet that's how most of us spend most of our weeks. Having these few simple, 'do anywhere' moves under your belt will allow you to feet lighter, have better mobility, and keep you standing a little straighter. Let Peter guide you through some stretches you can do right NOW to help release tension and alleviate pain in your upper back. Watch Video Here. Looking for more stretching tips? Book a private yoga session with Peter to help customize a routine to target your specific needs.  Upcoming Workshop:
Cultivating Presence In Everyday Life with Stephanie Filardi Saturday, December 7, 2019, 3:00pm-5:00pm Tovami Yoga, Mamaroneck, NY What does it mean to live a life of presence? How can we use the tools we learn on the mat in yoga and meditation and apply them to everyday life to help us navigate challenging times and live according to our values? In this workshop based upon the teachings of Swami Kripalu and Eckhart Tolle, Stephanie will guide you through movement and experiential practices to help you anchor yourself in what it means to live a life of presence. We will have group discussion to connect and share as well as reflective writing exercises so you come away with tools to apply immediately in your life. Cost: $45. Register Here.  New! Warm Yoga Thursdays with Stephanie
Thursdays: 6:30 pm, Starts September 26, 2019 @Tovami, Mamaroneck NY In a warm room (~80 degrees) experience a moderate flow that includes breath, mindful movement, and relaxation to balance body, mind and spirit. Develop presence and power as we move together to strengthen and lengthen muscles, improve flexibility, balance and experience deep bliss. Register Here  Presence Practice by Stephanie
In times we feel emotionally unbalanced, stressed, lacking focus, energy etc.....having a presence practice helps return us to balance. As I talk about in Chapter Two of my book Reclaiming JOY, the emotional roller coaster is not sustainable and keeps us stuck. We react and often cause more turmoil. This simple presence practice, called BRFWA, (we love and use often at the Sanctuary) brings us back to a relaxed state where our emotions are in balance. From this place of emotional balance or equanimity, we are able to ride the emotional wave without drowning in it / losing ourselves for too long. In equanimity we find our way back to peace and clarity and perhaps even a chuckle. Once clear, we are able to take clear, focused action that keeps us on the path of peace as we move toward our goals. Let's go! BRFWA Explained (Give yourself at least 5 minutes to experience this). Breathe: As a wave of emotion comes over you, slow down your breath. Allow your breath to flow freely in and out. Relax: As you slow down your breath, your mind and body will begin to relax. Soften your muscles, let go of mental and physical tension. Feel: As you relax, you are able to soften into what you are feeling. Stay open to the sensations and emotions moving through you in this moment. Watch: While feeling, you watch your experience closely, neither grasping what is pleasant nor pushing away what is painful. Allow: As you watch, you allow the process to unfold. You accept yourself and your experience exactly as it is, dropping the need to change it in any way. BRWFA is the practice of being present. Being present is what we learn during meditation. Namaste, Stephanie  Your Happiness by Stephanie
"The greatest adventure you can have is to live the life of your dreams." - Oprah Who's in charge of your happiness? You are! Why do I say this? Some of you know over the last 6 months I've been part of Eckhart Tolle's School of Awakening with my intention to intensify presence and live my highest purpose. Learning myself in order to teach others. So, why am I writing about happiness? Well, one of the greatest lessons I've learned over the past 6 months is that life isn't here to make us happy. It's here to make us awaken. What does that mean? If happiness is our goal, we will often find ourselves unhappy. As we know, life gives us challenges. One minute all is well...the next minute not so much. And our emotional state takes the hit each time. When things are going well, we attach. When things aren't going so well, we detach. Hence the practices of non-attachment we speak of in yoga, shamanism, meditation and other spiritual paths to help us stay in balance. What I have learned, continue to practice, and want to share is that when our focus is on "awakening", meaning-- waking up to who we are, what we want, and why we are here...a funny thing happens. We actually end up experiencing more more happiness!!! Why? Because we learn how to live a meaningful life, a life that is aligned with what matters most to us, not someone else or some ideal. Quite simply, we start to do (meaning we take action!) on the things that make us "happy" on the inside..things that bring us joy, peace, love. How each of us defines a "meaningful" life varies across time, space, personality, etc. As an example, have you ever known a person who is living their life to the fullest by doing only the things that bring them joy? Maybe these people irritate you? It seems so selfish of them!!! Ahhh... or not. Maybe taking care of our own needs is the greatest act of self love we can experience. Because when we love ourselves, we are able to love others. So, while we may have moments of happy/unhappy in our life as challenges arise, when we fully commit to awakening, we are clear on our purpose even when the path is uncertain. We gain tools to weather the storms. In the end, we realize it's our choice to be happy and live the life of our dreams...or not. I support you! Namaste, Stephanie |
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