Yoga, My Dependable Labrador

It feels so good! Like the most fulfilling morning stretch after a long night’s sleep. No, it feels better than that! It feels like a deep, cleansing inhale followed by the deepest and fullest exhale. No, that doesn’t describe the incredible feeling well enough either. When I have to take a long break from yoga, I feel stressed along with frustration that there’s a long break in my practice. But, the flip side is the amazing feeling of getting back to my practice.

Most recently I had surgery, so I wasn’t allowed to practice yoga for over 2 weeks. And this was on the tail of having done yoga everyday for one month straight (aside from one sick day)! The sudden halting of my practice was so frustrating and hard to handle, and came at a time when I needed the breathing and meditation most in my life. Not only was I not supposed to practice yoga (or do any exercise for that matter), but when I tried it out too soon, I was in pain and had to stop. I actually felt sad and a bit lonely without yoga by my side, as if my dependable pet Labrador had wandered off.

A few days ago, I was able to completed my first yoga practice after my 14 day break. Oh my goodness….how good it felt to do the first Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation)!! It was as if I was waking up from a long hibernation. Involuntarily, a huge smile crossed my face and stayed there as my arms circled to the sky on an inhale and my hands landed at heart center on an exhale. The smile remained on my face for the entire 90 min. class. A few times I even giggled with joy at the amazing openings that took place throughout my joints and muscles. And, oh, the feeling of getting upside-down into a handstand! The energy was flowing again, my chakras were waking up again, and the deep breathing renewed my spirit again. How good it feels to come home to yoga after a long break!

I almost want to take a long break every few months, just to have that amazing feeling when I return to it. But, I don’t know if I can go without my dependable Labrador…

by Brooke Nisbet

RYT200

Yoga Teacher | Wellness Guide

http://peaceloveyogahealth.wix.com/brookenisbet

A Yoga Dream No Longer Deferred

Bali after teacher training.

I arrived a few days early to let the love and warmth of Bali sink in.  It always welcomes me as if I’m a child coming home after spending months away. I call it my ‘home away from home’, and everyone that knows me always asks, “Going to Bali for your next vacation?” And the answer is usually, “Yes!”

Yet, this time I had not arrived for vacation. This time I had not arrived with friends or family. This time I had not arrived with the intent to relax and play on the beach for 3 weeks. No, this time I had arrived to FINALLY add to my yoga journey. I had arrived to begin the path of earning my certification as a yoga teacher. (And I learned that I earned oh so much more than a piece of paper!). I had been craving to do this for a few years now….and the time had finally come! Excitement prevailed above all other emotions!

What took me so long to get here? Around 2009, I decided I wanted to get certified to teach yoga. And with each passing year, I felt more disappointed in myself for having not found the time to attend a yoga teacher training yet. There was always a reason…money, family, friends, boyfriends, and other commitments. All that to say, I’d not committed to myself. I was giving away any extra time I had to others and not turning inward to grow spiritually nor begin my next steps in life. But alas, the timing, place, and money were all aligned! All of this along with my will power to just do it! I didn’t realize what I’d signed up for…none of us did. Spiritual and intellectual  growth, lots of sweat and many tears….and above all, new sisters (and one brother) who speak my spiritual, yogi language.

The yoga hall, and my trainee friends.
Learning assists for side plank pose. Yep, that's me in side plank!

It’s hard to say what affected me the most, as it was a combination of all facets of the training. The 30 min. of meditation each morning, and trying to keep my monkey mind quiet and still. (I'm not sure I mastered that…actually, I know I didn’t master that!) Maybe the 2 hour yoga classes EVERY morning for 21 days in a row, followed by the stiff, sore walk to a quick breakfast. Or the long afternoons sitting on the hard floor of the outdoor yoga hall where we learned yoga theory, anatomy, philosophy, had deep discussions, asana practice, yoga history…and more. You cannot spend three weeks eating, sleeping, breathing the yogic life and not come out very changed on the other side. Changes such as: Having new goals for being a better person, learning to practice non-attachment, learning to keep the ego in check (so hard!), learning about the life changing yamas (moral virtues) and niyamas (self regulation). Or the close bonds and connections made with so many beautiful yogis of all ages and from around the world. A day didn’t go by that wasn’t filled with encouragement, love, laughs, tears, peace, anxiety….all of it, for all of us. I am forever affected and changed….for all of these reasons and more.

I love yoga even more than I did before. I want to practice it more, and share it where and when I can. I hope to inspire others to not only do yoga, but to set new goals to achieve and live more freely. To take risks that can change their lives.

Just 1 day after finishing my 21 day training intensive. 

I have to share one of the mantras we began saying to each other during the 12 hour days of our 21 day training, because at least one of us was in tears each day. This mantra was always followed by a little chuckle, “Have a break through ladies…not a break down!”

Peace, love, freedom and happiness to my new yoga sisters!

by Brooke Nisbet (at the time of writing this post, I was a brand new RYT 200)

E-RYT200, RYT500
http://peaceloveyogahealth.wix.com/brookenisbet