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Because the practice
of yoga is centered on the individual, it should be taught in an individual
way. In traditional yoga classes, the instructor orchestrates the
class into a series of poses. You're told how to achieve the positions
and how to hold them.
But the path to truth and spiritual freedom
takes many turns and twists. For many people, and especially for women,
to expect you to travel this path with a "vehicle" that is rigid and
regimented is, in essence, preventing you from reaching your goals. A
new approach to yoga is revealing itself.
| "Your clear, soft strength stirs a lost place deep inside… The seeds were there, I guess. You've come with water and nourishment. I feel life and hope moving under the surface. Thank you so much." -Carole |
Three beautiful women! From top to bottom .. |
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| Patricia (front) gets a big thank-you from Angela for assisting at the Feathered Pipe Workshop |
For women , this new yoga has proved to be a vehicle for opening, exploring, healing and empowering. Angela has been leading women's workshops in several locations, Napa Valley, Kripalu Yoga Center, and Feathered Pipe Ranch among them. This is Angela's recent take on what she finds at these workshops:
"When I offer classes or retreats for women only, I find my focus is more and more about reclaiming one's power, one's body and one's personal space. By this I mean that many, if not most women, due perhaps to historical suppression, early trauma, sexual and other abuse or physical and emotional injuries, have only a partial sense of their 'beingness'. Knowing this and talking about it may help, but still the deep memories are locked in at a cellular level. My approach is to create a space/setting where there is a feeling of safety and support to take the journey inwards to where these old traumas hide within our bodies. Instead of forcing or avoiding these places, we begin by giving them space and loving concern, as a mother might do to a frightened or injured child. Once a kind connection is established, it is often amazing how quickly old pains and tight areas begin to release. Working specifically with the breath we can bring back strength and new life to often forgotten parts of ourselves. We work though the body, but the effects are felt in many areas of life such as more confidence, more freedom of movement and more joy for a start.
| " Thank you again for all of your love and kindness during the retreat. It was definitely a life-changing experience for me. I feel accessibility to parts of me that I'm not sure I ever really knew before. They were a scary stranger to me that I feel I am becoming friends with. The knowledge and the care that you gave to our class was truly beautiful and inspirational. I start teaching at a new studio today, and feel more confident about guiding my students thanks to my week with you." Sue |
"Then the approach broadens out to posture, finding ways to reestablish a strong and healthy Base Chakra ... a place to stand in oneself / to take a 'stand' in the world. This is established by feeling ones deep roots in Mother Earth and ones internal roots in oneself both in movement and in stillness.
| Dear
Angela, I was at your Kripalu workshop and remembered the time when I was giving birth, on my hands and knees, I had that same lotus opening feeling in my cervix and perineum as my baby crowned, and then catching her head with one hand as she was born ~ my whole pelvis felt like a blossoming lotus! Your teachings were so freeing, the sound of your voice so soothing and your wisdom so welcomed all in my heart and soul. Thank you for awakening me! Blessings and prayers to you, -Sue |
"From there we open up the Back-body to feel how we can have a safe-place in which to be, in which to stand. Coming back home to oneself. Opening up the 'Energy-body' as a shield in which to stand and in which to sit in peace and meditation, giving us back the true power of the Feminine and releasing the need to always 'Be out there', 'Do as good as the Guys' etc It is a beautiful, powerful and yet peaceful place of Love and Wisdom .... the true birthright of all women!
"In these Yoga classes and retreats we have lots of have fun and plenty of time for creativity as well as the deep and soulful work of journeying inwards." -Angela
| " I was one of the "lucky" participants at Feather Pipe Ranch early this month. Cannot express with adequate words what this experience with Angela meant to me....I am still trying to absorb it and throughout my practice of yoga I know it will definitely change me. My yoga teacher noticed it immediately and that was pleasurable. Again I cannot thank you enough for such an incredible experience, plus all the new friends I made during the workshop." -CM |
This sensibility is part of the workshops that continue at Angela and Victor's Yoga Hall in Eftalou and elsewhere around the world.