Youth
Yoga Update for January/February 2014
Monday
night youth yoga, held at Open Spirit, 39 Edwards Street,
Framingham, MA has been going strong now for two years. I really
enjoy the class because with this group anything goes. We are all
really happy to be together on Mondays, whether it is sunny or cold
and damp...we all just want to be there.
For
the past two months, coloring has been a really big thing for us.
There is just something so relaxing and focusing about coloring, and
friendship building, that we have found a nice rhythm coming to our
mats, practicing our yoga with poses, breath and meditation, and then
hunker down for some group coloring time. It started with pictures of
bare trees and we wrote affirmations in the roots and branches, to
fill our trees up with positive statements and observations. That
moved onto focus
wheels, with the center circle stating "I AM" and then the
external circles embracing our qualities of goodness,
trustworthiness, warmth etc. I then came across a nice coloring book
of Mandalas and off we went, coloring mandalas. Relaxing in their
overall affect.
This
past Monday, I came in with a picture I had created that integrated
the Chakras, the Prana Vayus, and the Koshas. We started class with
an exercise that was inspired by Edna Reinhardt of Yoga Education
Resource's marble adventure (I had meant to bring my marbles but
forgot them, but luckily I had all my colored markers with me). We
started by all taking Baddha Konasana (butterfly pose), I dropped all
the markers in the center of our mandala shape and we went to it,
sorting the markers and adding them to open spaces that our feet had
created. Releasing this pose, we then divvied up the markers in color
families: green/grey/black, blue/purple, pink/brown and
yellow/orange/red. We each created shapes with our markers, whatever
inspired us. This led us to seeing that we each possessed certain
colors that lead to a creation of an earth, grass, flower, sun &
sky picture. Which then naturally led to the creation of a waterfall,
complete with all our socks, which somehow were all greeny/bluey
colored, as a water fall at the end of our rainbow.
This
was such a nice focusing activity to start class. We then talked
about different uses for breath and practiced using Ujjayi breath and
also to feel the relaxation of our throats (I had them imagine they
were yawning with their mouths closed to give them the effect of an
open throat). I was able to then jump right into a series of poses,
while at the same time taking about the Chakras and feeling our
colors, with a special focus on the throat chakra-which is blue-and
again noting that we were all dressed in variations of blue, so it
seemed so appropriate to focus on this. In each pose I reminded them
to pay attention to their throats, to allow the flow of energy there
and to release the tension so as not to be constricted.
Class
flowed beautifully, Savasana at the end with lovely lilac filled eye
pillows. Soft flamenco music played throughout the class.
¡Ole
Namaste!
Eve
What
is a Mandala?
The
meaning of mandala comes from Sanskrit meaning "circle."
Mandalas are geometric designs symbolic of the universe that are used
as an aid to meditation.
How
to use a Mandala?
1.Set
your intention for your practice/life (An
intention is a promise you make to yourself and a way of putting
logic and beliefs into action. One way to set your intention is to
focus on something you are grateful for. You can also set it based on
a quality you want: spontaneity, flexibility, peace of mind,
inspiration, concentration...)
The
design of the mandala is meant to attract the viewer visually, so
much so that the mind becomes absorbed by it. The design’s hypnotic
effect relaxes the mind. With a relaxed mind, the individual is able
to focus his attention inwards rather than focusing on life’s usual
distractions. In this state, imagination flows which in turn
increases creativity, sympathy, and self respect.
2.Focus
on the mandala. Let
your eyes take in the radiance of its designs. Release your mind.
Recognize when your mind wanders back to your list of choirs or your
concerns and simply bring your attention back to the beauty of the
mandala. Let the mandala absorb your attention. In time, you will
begin to feel luminous and fresh and spontaneous thoughts may arise.
Relax and allow these thoughts in. If at any time you begin to feel
lost, uncomfortable or distracted, re-focus your attention back on
the mandala. Everyone’s experience will be different but meditating
with the mandala can be relaxing and you can come away with a clarity
concerning the intention that you set at the beginning of your
practice.
Title:
Writing The Dance
Authors:
Richard Kent & Josie Bray
Age
group: teen+ all students of dance can benefit
Published
by: Published in cooperation with the National Writing Project
@ Thew University of California/ Berkeley
Theme/Topic:
Reflecting on dance; dancers journal
Genre:
Non fiction; journal
Opening
Synopsis: Writing
the Dance
provides dancers and dance students of all abilities with an
opportunity to immerse, think broadly, and connect deeply to the
inner life of the dancer. Within this book you'll find a wide variety
of reflective activities that can optimize a dancer's performance,
including prompts and analysis pages for classes, rehearsals, and
performances. This workbook-journal allows dancers to come to know
their work in the studio and on stage in a more intimate and detailed
way.
Quick
sum up: This book is a
dancer's journal into self exploration. It provides a platform for
dancers to learn and improve by using their own self reflection.
Journals help you to focus, think, explore, address issues and to
really see yourself, in your own words. A virtual mirror, not a
physical reflection of yourself-seeing yourself from the outside
looking inwards, instead a journal allows a view from the inside out.
Writing The Dance
provokes, clarifies, coaxes, prioritizes and harmonizes your thoughts
on your dance. There is no wrong way to express Writing
The Dance
and it is for your eyes only.
Why
I like it + disclaimer:
I really enjoyed Writing
The Dance.
The journal prompts, the dance reflections, performance feedback and
dance study sections all opened the way for meditation and are
effective exercises for introspection. I found the book to be a very
useful tool for my own journey as a flamenco dancer, choreographer
and teacher. I believe that Writing
The Dance
is
a valuable addition to all dancer's book shelves (or should I say
bedside tables!).
Full
Disclosure: Josie Bray provided a copy of Writing
The Dance to
review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Additional
resources:
http://www.writingthedance.com/,
https://www.facebook.com/writingthedance
http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Dance-Workbook-Journal-Dancers/dp/0986019135
Winter-Spring 2014 Youth Flamenco & Yoga Classes with Eve Costarelli
Mondays:
Youth Yoga (Ages 8+)
4:30-5:30PM
Open Spirit, 39
Edwards St., Framingham, MA
Wednesdays:
Youth Flamenco (Ages 5-16)
4:00-5:00PM
(Ages 5-10) Level 1
5:00-6:00PM
(Ages 11-16) Level 2
Dance Complex, 536 Mass Ave., Cambridge, MA
Thursdays:
Youth Yoga (Ages 8-14)
3:00-4:00PM
(please call to inquire 617-566-9642)
DownUnder Yoga, 1052 Beacon St., Brookline
Youth Flamenco (ages 4-12)
4:30-5:15PM
(Ages 4-7)
5:15-6:15PM
(Ages 8-12)
*Brookline
Location TBD; please call or email to inquire: 617-5216-1643;
AdamAnt_Eve@hotmail.com
Bring The Birth of Flamenco
to your school or community event.
Discover
the fiery art of Flamenco, a creation of the Roma (or Gypsies) who
fused dance from Spaniards, music from the Moors and song from
Sephardic Jews. Through movement, music and words, Eve Costarelli
traces the origins of this emotive form from India to Andalusia. In
addition to Flamenco’s rich history, students will learn about
compás (rhythm) tacaneo (footwork) and the communication between
dancer and guitarist. They’ll join in the performance using palmas
(clapping rhythms) and jaleo (calls) and volunteers will be called
upon to learn a few moves!
Please
contact Jason Rabin at Young Audiences of Massachusetts for more
information and scheduling questions. Workshops available.
scheduling@yamass.org
or call 617-629-9262 - Eve
is available for private/semi private/ family lessons, birthday
parties for all ages, performances.
Contact
Eve Costarelli 617-216-1643 or AdamAnt_Eve@hotmail.com;
www.AlwaysBeDancing.com
