Welcome to my first ever blog post!
Why have I decided to start this blog?
I often notice, during my practice or while teaching, yoga-related tidbits that I'd like to share with others. Although I can share a lot during class and/or in response to inquisitive students, it generally feels like the message is fleeting; as though it finds its way to those present and then fizzles away. Otherwise, the useful tip I'd like to share is for a style of yoga that I don't regularly teach, like yin or restorative, leaving me without a proper outlet. This blog is my solution, allowing me to provide more permanence to the bits of knowledge I have to share, while slowly building a consultable resource. The plan is for each blog post to be short (some exceptions obviously apply) and be limited to a small concept.
Transparency
I want to provide bite-sized yoga education with transparency; but transparency has a bit of a fluid definition, as represented by the photo above. For example, the leftmost image, which is literally more transparent, has not been altered. At face value, I look remarkably thin, which may be attractive and desirable to replicate, causing a viewer to think excitedly “maybe Leah’s take on yoga can get me to look like that!” Unfortunately however, that’s not really reality. What is unseen is the fact that in that photo I’m doing Uddiyana Bandha, an abdominal lock requiring careful muscular control, and which, under the shirt, makes you second guess wanting to have a "flat stomach" (think skeleton with protruding ribs). Showing a carefully selected and posed photo, even if #nofilter, along with "tips to get there", is the type of transparency that is like grasping at a hologram, and I don’t wish to contribute to that realm.
On the other hand, the rightmost opaque lotus-pose image represents the type of transparency I want to convey: stability, fullness, flexibility and awareness - grounded in reality. What you see is what you get. My intent is to be transparent by simply providing digestible tidbits of education to enhance the reader’s ability to observe themselves and their yoga.
I hope you enjoy the posts that follow and gain a little from this venture!
Namaste,
Leah