Arizona/Sedona Yoga retreat

I am so sorry!! I just looked and was shocked to see that I haven't posted on my Yoga blog since March of last year!! Aacckk! For those that follow, I do apologize for having abandoned you completely.

Now, for the good news! I am still teaching yoga classes in Arizona, and in fact, I am getting ready to take a group of fabulous women on a Goddess Yoga retreat to Sedona. I can't even tell you how excited I am about this!! To plan, arrange, facilitate every aspect of taking a group of women away from the real world and create a unique experience of bonding and having the luxury of 5 yoga classes over the 3 day weekend. Planning delicious menus, special music playlists, naming each bedroom of the estate a different beautiful Sanskrit word. Then having the retreat participants research thier bedroom name over the weekend (in only books of course-no electronics allowed!) and learn as much about the sanskrit word as possible, fun!!

So, if you want information to register for the retreat. I will accept one or two late registrations. The dates are Feb. 24, 25, 26th 2012. The cost is $350.00 and includes accomadations at a 5,000 square foot private estate in Sedona, all meals and snacks, 5 yoga classes over the 3 days. And a departure gift for each participant. We begin on Friday at 3:00pm and end on Sunday at 3:00pm. For info contact me: missdaisy7169@gmail.com
Happy New Year, peace and namaste...Andrea

Life in Balance, the balance of Life...

As I taught my classes this week, I noticed how everyone in class struggled with balance postures. In my 8 years of teaching yoga classes in Arizona, I've noticed this many times before. As soon as students realize we are coming into a balance posture such as knee to chest, or Tree or Warrior 3, they grimace, they sigh, they hem and haw, and most of all, they moan and groan! "Ugg...Not balance, I really hate balance!!"

This week, I really began to examine why. I also began to talk to classes about it. Helping them to understand, beyond the physical reasons. Beyond the fact that it's challenging, out of our control or it feels "uncomfortable", why do we dislike balance so much? Beyond the physical limitations of the body, what about the mental, emotional and spirtual ideals of bringing things into balance. Of just simply trying to keep our life in "balance". On a day to day basis, from the time we wake up in the morning, til the time we go to bed at night, we are struggling and juggling and trying to keep everything in balance. Chances are, if things aren't in balance off the mat, then they probably aren't in balance on the mat either. This is why we struggle with balance postures on the mat. This is why we gringe when the teacher says drop the hand and turn the hip up into Ardha Chandrasana the half moon pose. If we aren't mentally, emotionally and spiritually balanced in our personal lives, we can't possibly expect to get on the mat be grounded, be centered and have physical balance in the one-legged postures in our personal practice.
Maybe though, just maybe, if we can find solitude and acceptance and peace in the balance postures on the mat, maybe ~we can take a little bit of that with us off the mat and out into the world. Maybe be ok with how you are doing it, just for today let it be perfect just how you are doing it...on the mat and off.
Peace, peace, peace...
Namaste~Andrea

All good things must come to an end...

So, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. This Saturday January 29, 2011 I say goodbye to Calming Body Effects Studio. This has been my yoga home for teaching and working the desk for the last year.

I was blessed to teach at one studio, in one place for the last year. Without anyone telling me what music to play, what to teach and what not to teach. I had absolute freedom as an instructor, without judgment and criticism. What a gift that is!

Having that freedom to develop my yoga classes gave the yoga clients at CBE the freedom to develop a love of yoga and also a love of themselves.

It was my pleasure to teach the beautiful clients at CBE. Thank you for embracing me, sharing your lives with me, and being on my journey the past year. I love you all! You were a joy to have in class, and you will be missed.

Peace & Blessings...

Namaste~Andrea

Healing the body with Yoga

Yoga for Sciatica
By Andrea Hutchens

The term sciatica is described by sufferers of the condition as leg pain and tingling, pins and needles, numbness or possibly even weakness that originates in the low back and travels down through the buttocks via the sciatic nerve in the back of the leg. Typically, the symptoms are only felt on one side of the body at a time.

Although sciatica is a relatively common condition, the true meaning and cause is often misunderstood. Sciatica itself is a set of symptoms rather than a diagnosis for what is actually irritating the root of the nerve, causing the pain. People that suffer from sciatica describe it as a pain going straight down one side of the buttock. Flare-ups of the condition are often times brought on by and increase in everyday stress, sitting or standing for long periods of time, or sitting with legs crossed.

While it may seem counterintuitive, exercise is usually better for healing sciatic pain rather than bed rest. Patients may rest a day or two after their sciatica flares up, but after that time period, inactivity will usually make the pain worse. Usually a ‘general’ yoga class with mixed postures and stretches will just aggravate or make sciatic pain worse. For example, many poses such as Downward Facing Dog (a core yoga pose practiced in nearly every yoga class) or standing postures, will just put too much pressure on an already irritated nerve. For this reason, a specific set of stretches and exercises has been developed for sciatica sufferers. Some of the exercises recommended include; but are not limited to:

Piriformis Stretch
Crocodile Twist
Supine (reclining) knee to chest pose
Supine Cobblers Pose
Passive back arch pose
Saddle Pose
Pigeon Pose

Yoga for sciatica exercises are recommended for a specific condition. They can help improve flexibility and stretching of the muscles compressing the nerve. However, they must be practiced on a regular basis (some twice a day), and should be performed correctly to be effective. Close attention to posture and alignment is key to achieving maximum benefits and results. Working with a certified Yoga Instructor that has specific knowledge and experience of yoga for sciatica is suggested.

* Please note: The above yoga exercises were adapted from “Yoga: The Path to Holistic Health” by B.K.S Iyengar. As always, consult your physician before beginning any new exercise regimen.

Air Module Begins...

This weekend began my last module (4 months each) of my 16 month Master Teacher Training program at Inner Vision Studios. Yikes! I am so not ready for my program to come to an end. But, I must listen to my own words as a teacher and "Be present" and enjoy every moment.
This weekend we focused mostly on Chapter 4 of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras-Kaivalym. I learned that Kaivalym means freedom. It also means isolation. It can be thought of as the freedom that comes to the mind through meditation. Kaivalym can also mean "alone" or to be alone in ones mind and to be able to feel contentment in that~brings us ultimate freedom.
An important Yoga Sutra that we learned this weekend that resonanted with me was
YS 4.19~ "A thought cannot illuminate itself." It order for it to become a thought it needs us to bring awareness to it. Think of it this way, the Moon cannot illuminate itself, it needs the sun.
Namaste for now~
Andrea

Summer 2010 wrap-up!!

New Tattoo-"Andrea" in Sanskrit/Devangari
Full Wheel-Urdhva Danurasana on the Red Rocks

One arm side balance-Vasishtasana

Well, Summer 2010 is just about coming to an end. The summer brought a break in between my master teacher training modules. My last module, "Air Module" begins on Friday August 27. Although I've missed seeing my friends and fellow yogis at the studio, the summer brought many fun times and new adventures in my life.
As the summer began, I took a lovely trip to Lake Powell and Rainbow Bridge for the first time. I found that being on a boat out on the water brings a different type of meditation and peace to be enjoyed. I spent many weekends this summer up in Sedona. A place I feel very connected too. I am fortunate to have a good friend in my life that has an amazing home with beautiful views of the red rocks. A sanctuary, if you will. I was able to escape the heat of the valley and go re-connect with nature and myself nearly every weekend. I went on a quad for the first time this summer. Got my third tattoo with dear sweet Siva in Cornville at Sacred Fire tattoos again. Grew to love arm balances and made many new friends. Went 4-wheeling up broken arrow trail to submarine rock, only this time in a hummer. Listened to a lot of great Pandora music, indulged in some delicious food and took a lot of time to smile, breathe and Be Present.

"Do you know what it is to feel the light of love inside you

and all the darkness falls away"~ Dave Matthews Band

Namaste for now~Andrea

Earth Module comes to an end...

This past weekend, brought the end of Earth Module, the third module in my master teacher training at Inner Vision Yoga. As always, I reach the end of this module with gratitude for my teachers, all that I have learned in the last 10 months, and for my fellow students in the program. I am also grateful that I am not done!!! I have one more module in the fall beginning at the end of August and going to the beginning of December.
So, with todays post I'd like to wrap up the module with some wonderful words of wisdom that my guru, my master teacher, Jeff Martens shared with us on Sunday:

* Life is the ultimate Guru~the ultimate teacher!!
* When you teach, unexpected things will happen during class, It is your job as a master teacher to find the GIFT in it!
*Trust yourself completely to be lead by higher action~ "sacred action".
*Teach from a place of helping people to evolve to another state of being. To looking at life with a different, evolved perspective.
*Always respond, never react-reacting comes from a place of fear. Be present, Breathe and Trust.
*Just choose to step out of the way of conflict. It is like a punch that doesn't connect with anything. There is no force there to resist, so it loses energy.
*Teaching a yoga class is always about the students, NOT YOU!
*And lastly, Quitting is not an option! Krishna says to do your work fully and surrender the fruits of your actions.

~This is Karma Yoga~

Peace, love, Namaste and Congratulations to Bobu, Ken, Lynette and Brigette who graduated from the program on Sunday. I will miss you all!!♥