The Power of Music, Pigeon, and Spring Flowers~ Day #5

Susan Reynolds • April 10, 2020

April 10

It was “Hips and Hamstrings” with Ori today, and it was so comforting to be in such familiar poses with Ori’s soothing voice “Deep breath in” and “Deep breath out.” My achy hips craved her floor sequence that took us shifting from right ankle on left thigh to reclining pigeon, to her signature pose where the reclined pigeon shifts to the left with the right foot on the floor.

I’m not sure why the hips are the source so much tension, stress, and feelings, but I always feel better after pigeon with the deep release of stored emotion. I think I’ll re-instate daily pigeon, even if I don’t get to a full class. Better yet, I’ve started practicing on my own outside while Sasha runs around in the yard. And it’s always nice to get a lick or two while breathing deeply into the sensations.

What’s really surprised me is the deep comfort from the familiarity of music. I’d forgotten the way Ori ends savasana with her melodic chanting. Even Sasha loved it as her ears perked up when she began. When Vicki played Krishna Dash this morning, images and memories of so many OTM classes over the last 15 years came flooding back.

Only 5 days back into yoga, and I feel like a different person. The new routine of the last two days has been a 6:30 am class, a long walk with Sasha, and when I’m a little imbalanced, a second yoga class during the day. While it’s easy to find an online or remote yoga class, the power comes from knowing I’m with my yoga community, and it’s so fun to see and chat with some of the friendly faces before practicing. Today, after meditation with Ori, a group of us had a Zoom chat for about 15 minutes after class ended. All I can say today is I am so grateful for you, OTM friends.



On The Mat Yoga Blog

Heart~ Day #7 (Week #4)

By Linda Malcomb • May 3, 2020
“There is a light in the core of our being that calls us home—one that can only be seen with closed eyes; We can feel it as a radiance in the center of our chest. This light of loving awareness is always here, regardless of our conditioning. It does not matter how many dark paths we have traveled or how many wounds we have inflicted or sustained as we have unknowingly stumbled toward this inner radiance. It does not matter how long we have sleepwalked, seduced by our desires and fears. This call persists until it is answered, until we surrender to who we really are. When we do, we feel ourselves at home wherever we are. A hidden beauty reveals itself in our ordinary life. As the true nature of our Deep Hear is unveiled, we feel increasingly grateful for no reason—grateful to simply be.” —John J. Prendergast, PHD, The Deep Heart

SUN!~ Day #6 (Week #4)

By Linda Malcomb • May 2, 2020
Seems like it’s been rainy, windy, dreary for eons. Which may have helped us shelter inside a bit more. I remember reading years and years ago in a Seth book that weather can be influenced, and even created by mass human emotion. Why not? We are far more powerful than we currently acknowledge, and science is beginning to validate many phenomena that had seemed inconceivable before. Those seemingly endless days of “bad” weather seemed congruent with the emotional tone of covid her in New England. And now SUN! Glorious, warming, invigorating, hope-filled Sun! Today I will be outside basking and gardening and thanking. And I’m sure the whole neighborhood, and most of New England will go outside, stand with our faces to the sun and breathe a huge healing breath of joy. And maybe the collective energy of that will resonate out across the word as a promise of brighter days to come.
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