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Maui Yoga and Dance Shala

Maui Yoga Blog

The Power of Practice

Whatever we practice, we get better at, and we are always practicing something.  Either we are reinforcing habits, behaviors and reactions we already have, or we are learning and reinforcing something new. Many of our behaviors and reactions are automatic and unconscious – we might call them ‘default’ practices. Conscious, intentional practice, on the other hand, is what we can do to change and take ourselves in a new direction. Essentially, intentional practice is freely choosing a new way of being and aligning our body/mind behaviors with our values, instead of ‘defaulting’ to old, conditioned stuff.

yoga teacher training graduation gayatri mantra madelyn ryan maui yoga
Singing the Gayatri Mantra on the garden lanai with Madelyn Ryan

Contemporary science refers to how practice works as Neuroplasticity. For many of us, early experiences conditioned our body/mind/emotions to react in an automatic, unconscious way – this becomes our ‘default’. The good news is that we can consciously choose to transform those default behaviors through practice. Neuroplasticity says that what we have learned we can un-learn and learn something new. In other words, through our intentional practice – awareness and repetition of a new thought, behavior, habit or movement – we can transform. Brilliant! This is one of the ways Yoga works! Practice is our Superpower.

We believe in the power of practice, the power of yoga, meditation and breathwork practices that can support you in laying the ground of body/mind awareness and attention, improving the quality and harmony of your life.  We are devoted to sharing the body, mind and spirit benefits of yoga. We hope you will join us…come practice and train with us and become a member of our yoga community! 

Sraddha – Faith in our practice

According to Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras (1.20), the practice of Yoga begins in Śraddhā, faith. Śraddhā means ‘that which gives you space and nourishment and holds you in place’. Here faith does not mean believing in something ‘out there’, faith is a basic trust in the Yoga tradition and your own sacred path. Faith gives you the energy and desire to keep coming back to your mat and your sadhana, or practice. In times of doubt or uncertainty, sometimes we can let our commitment to our practice wobble. It’s just then that we need our practice to help us to stabilize and ground…what a blessing that we can lean into our practice to steady us! 

The Yoga philosophy teaches us ways to meet the moment, to work with our mind and body and to be as present as we can be with life. Because that is what is required to truly grow and love and give. The practices bring us into direct relationship to the here and now, this moment. Which sounds great…but that requires a willingness to trust the unknown and meet the newness of this moment with openness of mind and heart. That’s faith. The ever-fresh willingness to learn more about yourself, and others and life…that is what keeps us dedicated to our practice.

yoga and bananas Hawaii
Emmarose helping with fresh banana harvest at the Maui Yoga Shala

Yoga helps build our trust in ourselves and in our path by helping us ‘remember’ our own heart and what’s most important. When you trust your practice, you naturally build trust in yourself and your own unique path. It’s time to trust and follow our hearts more than ever…and share the jewels of our gifts with the world. Our practice makes us stronger from the inside out, so we can continue to have faith in the road ahead, for ourselves and for the benefit of all. Trust that what you do matters! Come practice with us, and keep your light shining bright!

Yoga – Now more than ever

These are challenging times and every day we are living with the uncertainty of change. But we are made for these times. Even though the practices and philosophy of yoga have been around a long time, they are more alive and relevant than ever. They are tools available to us that can help us through these times and help us to emerge stronger and wiser.

The practices of yoga can give us stability, something to lean into. It may feel like we are walking in the dark sometime, unsure how to proceed, unable to make plans. What better opportunity to deepen into the practice of being fully present, showing up here and now. This is Yoga….the practices that help us to feel braver by giving us a sense of ground in our own body and heart. 

Maui Yoga Shala instructor and lead trainer Dawn Deleonardis

So many of us are experiencing anxiety and stress, and the practices of yoga – the tools of asana, pranayama and meditation – work directly with our nervous system to help restore us to calm. These practices, done regularly, heal and re-train our nervous system and take us in the direction of resilience and regulation, which in turn, supports our immune system. It is one of the best ways to take care of yourself at all levels.

There are no maps for the territory ahead. Our yoga practice helps us stay in tune to our inner compass, and have the courage to follow our heart. The perennial wisdom of the yoga tradition has been given to us to inspire and support us…and we need it now more than ever. 

We are so grateful to have this treasure in our lives and are blessed to share it. Come join us in our devotion to practicing and sharing this beautiful path of yoga.

300 Hour Yoga Story

by Holly McKibben

I began my yoga journey five years ago, taking classes at a local hot yoga studio. I went for the sweat, but something else brought me back, something bigger, something I did not yet understand. I came back to my mat, over and over again, and through asana (physical practice), I woke up to my true nature. That is the beauty of yoga; you do not have to understand it to reap its benefits. It works for everyone, every time, in whatever way they need it and in whatever capacity they can handle. Yoga atta anushasanum – in this auspicious moment, after prior preparation, we begin our practice of yoga. 

Yoga took me down the path of my soul, a path I walk with respect and gratitude. First, I became aware that I was not living authentically; that I was hiding and avoiding something vis a vis substances, alcohol, parties, television, exercise. Anything to distract myself from myself. First we become aware. Two years ago, I began to remember, face, and process childhood sexual trauma that was holding me back from inhabiting my body. The precious, sacred beauty of yoga is the transformation that begins with the simple act of being present in your body. I began to see the ripple effects of the trauma, and the myriad of ways in which it impacted my relationships with others and with myself. I saw the young girl within myself crying out for safety everywhere she went. With awareness came change. As I stripped away the layers, I realized that my hypervigilance, anxiety, distrust of others, disassociation and disconnection were all a part of a perpetual survival mode. I began to look at my life choices with more clarity and discrimitation. The avoidance behaviors began to fall away. With newfound clarity, I was forced to face truths that I didn’t want to face, truths that shook and cracked the foundations of my life. I found courage, I found strength, I listened and I trusted the answers. Last year I made the difficult and painful decision to leave my marriage and 15 year partnership. I moved forward with reliance on asana and meditation to help process the changes and to look for clarity during what were the darkest times of my life. 

I hit rock bottom three times after I left my ex-husband. The work was grueling, painful, so many layers, so much isolation, so much loss and grief. I kept practicing yoga. Life stayed hard. I kept practicing yoga. It felt like it was never going to get better. I kept practicing yoga. I suffered. I kept practicing yoga. My 200 hour training carried me through last winter. I became physically stronger and mentally hardier as I processed my life through the lens of yoga philosophy and with the support of the yoga community. COVID showed up about a month after I finished that training. I switched to night shift and was redeployed to work in a COVID intensive care unit for 6 weeks. I watched the world seem to stop, stand still, crumble, lift back up, grasp desperately, argue, split, sicken. I watched my family and friends struggle, I watched strangers die alone. I experienced intense anxiety and fear as I navigated this new pandemic world as a Nurse Practitioner, a yoga teacher and a young woman still processing her divorce. 

Intuition, the mana of Maui, God and my dharma, brought me back to the Maui Yoga Shala for my 300 hour training in October 2020. 

I was absolutely meant to be on the island. I was meant to travel to Maui on the first day the quarantine lifted, October 15th, 2020. I was meant to go through training during the pandemic. I was meant to meet Trenna & Sarah (& Dylan, Nataliae, & Leah). It was all for me and it all served me. I am filled with deep gratitude, love, respect, and awe for the Maui Yoga Shala community and the island of Maui. You welcomed me with open arms and became my family. 

Three themes came to me during my training. Ahimsa (non-violence), Ishvara Pranidana (surrender to God/universe/Source) and Viaragya (non-attachment, sometimes taught as non-reactivity). Anxiety, which has been with me most of my life, has manifested as control, violence, and attachment in my life. Anxiety is the opposite of surrender. My relationship to my anxiety has been a form of violence, because I have spent so much time rejecting myself. Anxiety kept me in perpetual survival-mode, which is a world of attachment and reaction. My anxiety told me that, first and foremost, I am not safe. Secondly, I am not a good person. Last but not least, I am not worthy of happiness. These lies are the foundation of the self-limiting narratives of my life. They have led me to think small and play small. I have found professional and personal success and happiness despite how hard I am on myself, yet I spent most of my life believing that I was successful because I was hard on myself. I had a breakthrough during my time in Maui. I realized that I don’t have to keep running away from anxiety. I can sit with it, listen to it, and even befriend it. Anxiety is a piece of me that I can welcome with open arms and say, hello my dear, what do you need to tell me? I can practice ahimsa by unconditionally loving myself, anxiety included. I can practice surrender by allowing what comes instead of fighting to control. And I can let go of my attachment to what I think my life “should” look like. Ahimsa, Ishvara Pranidana, Viaragya. 

What shaped me? Why was the experience so special? It was each of you. Your tender hearts, your desire to share yoga, your commitment to yourselves and your community. It was finding my voice with Madelyn Ryan the Moon Goddess, learning to fly and flow with Dawn, reclaiming my energy and finding safe space with Carine, soothing my nervous system and learning anatomy and breath with Jennifer, connecting with Nadia & absorbing her wisdom, focusing on alignment with Lee, deep conversations and jubilant laughter with my fellow trainees. It was melting my fascia and learning planes of movement with Michael on Wednesday mornings. It was Shakta’s grounding stability and presence and the way his devotion shines clearly and brightly. It was meeting Dawn and seeing a strong woman shining and thriving, as living breathing proof that there is light on the other side of divorce, on the other side of trauma, on the other side of The Dark Night of the Soul. It was the unique energy of the island as quarantine began to lift and visitors returned. It was the sun, the moon and the rainbows. It was the trade winds, Kona winds, the beach, the waves, the sand. It was the dense green forests. It was waking each morning with gratitude. It was nourishing my body with healthy delicious food. It was watching the sun rise and meditating on the beach. It was abstaining from alcohol. It was feeling lighter and happier. It was being lighter and happier. It was living the lifestyle of yoga in a beautiful place surrounded by love and community. 

Yoga started me on the path of the soul, and Maui was an integral part of my personal evolution along that path. I am more grounded and rooted than when I left Columbus in October. I am approaching life decisions with a spirit of openness and curiosity rather than fear and anxiety. I am relying on my tools; asana, meditation, pranayama, therapy. I am relying on yoga philosophy to guide me; ahimsa, satya, asteya, bramicharya, aparigraha. I am following my intuition and building confidence in my ability to live life from the heart. Thanks to my time in Maui, I know how I want to feel. The details around my life are to be determined. The who, what, where of my life will likely be shifting as I continue down this path. I forge on with excitement, gratitude, and curiosity.  You are my Ohana now.  Mahalo and aloha. 

Yoga: Beyond the Asana Practice

by Bre’ann Rupp

“How liberating it is: to pursue wholeness instead of perfection.” -Morgan Harper Nichols.

“Enlightenment is when a wave realizes it is the ocean.” -Thich Nhat Hanh.

On the first day of a yoga teacher training, one of my mentors invited the group to introduce ourselves, share a personal anecdote, and answer the question: what is yoga to you? We were allotted a few moments to write down our answers before we went around in a circle to share.

I scrawled the initial thoughts that came to me in my notebook. “Yoga is a way to release excess energy before it manifests as anxiety. It is a time to sit with myself and really think about and process past trauma. It is a way to connect with those around you without words.” My classmates each had varying narratives about how yoga had impacted them, eventually bringing them to the room we were sitting in together.

At that time, I thought of this as my first day venturing into adikara: studentship. Of course, I had practiced asana, the physical exercise aspect of yoga, for several years before I began the teacher training. My motivation was the physical benefits: better sleep, toned muscles, relaxed nervous system, improved joint longevity, and greater mobility, as well as the mental clarity, peace, and sense of belonging I felt after leaving a yoga class. In retrospect, I became a student of yoga long before I ever embarked on an official 200 hr and 300 hr training.

Bre’Ann Rupp in Compass Pose – Parivrtta Surya Yantrasana (Revolved Sun Instrument)

Although my perspective is limited to the confines of my own experiences, I feel comfortable expressing this conjecture: most of us live the early stages of our life in a state of curious avidya: an absence of knowledge, or ignorance of who we truly are. Inevitably, questions arise: “who am I?” which leads us to “what is my purpose?” and “am I walking the path of my life in alignment with dharma, doing the right thing?” We all differ in how we choose to move forward with these questions and the way we seek answers to them.

For me, that first day of training did not mark the beginning of my adikara but instead the beginning of my journey of abhyasa, or consistent practice. It is important to note that the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines practice as “to perform a task habitually or regularly in order to achieve or maintain proficiency” and although it is true that yoga must be a continuous, life-long practice for efficacy, the idea of being proficient in yoga is not really what it sounds like. Here it is helpful to invoke Patanjali, a Hindu sage who authored many texts but is most famed for his Yoga Sutras, which are revered and studied as a path to enlightenment.

2.42 santosha anuttamah sukha labhah

“From an attitude of contentment (santosha), unexcelled happiness, mental comfort, joy, and satisfaction are obtained.”

This means that one should be content with what one has and accepting of one’s situation unconditionally; this makes perfect sense when we consider that we can only ever be as happy as we are grateful. In this way, just by practicing at all, you are already a proficient yogi whether you can find ease in advanced asana poses or you are still having trouble sitting in sukhasana for more than a few minutes.

This illuminates a profound concept: that there is no “hierarchy” in yoga. Yogis respect and honor ourselves and each other at all levels. We meet each other wherever we are at on our individual journeys. This realization freed me from the invisible shackles of shame, uncertainty, shyness, and self-doubt I had been wearing on my wrists like bracelets for years. My dear mentor, Jennifer Bonadio, once defined freedom as “the ability to experience the present moment unencumbered by conditioning, filtered by perception, or weighed down by the past.” When I found confidence and freedom on the mat, I felt more inclined to seek out confidence and freedom in all areas of my life- intellectually, socially, and spiritually.

This free state of being I am attempting to describe is reminiscent of the state of kaivalya: “spiritual liberation that is achieved by realizing one’s existence is separate from physical matter.” At some point between studying the physiological effect different yoga poses can have on the body, hearing the phrase “moving meditation” repeatedly, and shouting “mudita!” whenever another yogi achieved a goal in asana class, I think I became more aware of kaivalya than I had ever been previously. I sensed it within me and around me: an intangible energy that connects me to myself, my community, the earth we live on, and the spirits we pray to. That’s what yoga is to me.

However, there is so much more to yoga beyond the realm of my individual narrative or the scope of an hour long class at your local gym. Yoga is an heirloom tradition that is thought to have originated over five thousand years ago and was first mentioned in writing in the sacred Hindu texts, the Vedas. Although most Westerners have primarily embraced only the physical exercise aspect of yoga, it is a much more expansive practice than this, and practitioners will also find that it broadens spiritual horizons with awareness and creates opportunities to build strong communities. It is acknowledged as a science because of the research, anatomy, and possibilities for therapeutic applications. It is an art because each practitioner applies the tools in a unique way and with personal intentions.

In Ashtanga (eight-limbed) yoga, it is implied that eight parts come together to make a whole. Picture this “whole” as a tree with eight large branches swaying in the wind, somehow solid and fluid all at once. It is flexible, ever-changing, and grows organically without limits. All the branches are connected to each other, each vital in their own way to nourishing the whole unit. If one branch of the tree atrophies, the tree might not be balanced and will consequently fall over or become too ill to bear fruit.

The first branch is composed of the yamas, or ethical codes of external restraint, which are further broken down into five parts: ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya, and aparigraha. Ahimsa is the principle of non-harming or non-violence, meaning that the yogi should do as little harm as possible in every situation. Satya means truthfulness, so the yogi should always tell the truth as best they can while adhering to ahimsa. Asteya means non-stealing, so the yogi should never take something that doesn’t belong to them or share information they were entrusted with in confidence. Brahmacharya implies celibacy but can also mean responsibility with one’s body. Aparigraha means non-holding or non-grasping, which means that the yogi should resist the urge to hold tightly to material things, feelings, or plans.

The second branch is composed of the niyamas, which are observances of internal restraint, also further broken down into five parts: saucha, santosha, tapas, svadhyaya, and ishvara pranidhana. Saucha is cleanliness and it implies that keeping one’s body, mind, and environment clean is essential to living a pure life. Santosha is contentment, meaning that the yogi should be humble and content with what they have, accepting of situations as they come, and at peace with life as it is. Tapas is often described as “the inner fire” or discipline, and it means that the yogi should choose productive ways to expend energy. Svadhyaya means “self study” and it means one should cultivate self-awareness during all activities as they perform them. Ishvara pranidhana directly translates to “celebration of the spiritual” and is often interpreted as meaning “surrender to the divine.” This final niyama ties all of the yamas and niyamas together: it means to surrender to forces greater than yourself, to have faith that life is unfolding in a way that is only for your highest good, and to walk this path of awareness lightly, with humility, grace, and gratitude.

The third branch is asana, the physical postures of yoga that are often the most recognized aspect in Western culture. Each asana class is as unique as the instructor guiding it. There are thousands of different asanas and specific poses render benefits, such as lumbar pain relief in forward folds and sciatic pain relief in pigeon pose variations. The asanas can be sequenced together in an infinite number of different ways to create a variety of flows, or practiced individually to reap specific benefits.

The fourth branch is pranayama, or restraint/control of breath. Breathwork is celebrated for being relaxing to the nervous system. Pranayama is essential when practicing asana and requires concentration. The fifth branch is pratyahara, which means withdrawal of the senses to clear the consciousness of outside distractions so that one can become more self-aware. The sixth branch is dharana, or concentration and focus. This was already mentioned in pranayama, which illustrates how interconnected and important all the branches are to each other.  This is even further evidenced by the seventh branch: dhyana, which is meditation. Meditation is the act of concentrating for a prolonged time with senses withdrawn and pranayama employed. The eighth branch is samadhi, which describes a state of oneness in effortless meditation. Almost every previous branch is at work when the yogi achieves samadhi, true enlightenment. In samadhi, one can find ananda, or bliss, in the harmonious balance of mind, body, and spirit. This is awareness of satnam: “one’s true identity” or “one whose name is truth.” This is the answer to the questions we asked earlier in our journey: “who am I? What is my purpose?” Another trusted guide of mine, Dawn DeLeonardis, said that “satnam is your true north.” She meant that whenever one is seeking direction, this inner truth should be the guide, the fixed point as the world moves around you.

Patanjali himself shared wisdom to aid us in tuning in to this true north:

1.33 maitri karuna mudita upekshanam sukha duhka punya apunya vishayanam bhavanatah chitta prasadanam

“The mind becomes purified by cultivating feelings of friendliness towards those who are happy, compassion for those who are suffering, goodwill towards those who are virtuous, and indifference or neutrality towards those we perceive as wicked or evil.”

This sutra is a reminder that the yogi walks lightly, gently, and consciously. They choose compassion, humility, empathy, and connection over ego, pride, selfishness, and self-importance. The yogi assumes a position of neutrality whenever possible; when called to action, the yogi answers the call with love.

All of this sounds wonderful and is attainable, but as my advisor Shakta gently reminded us when we graduated from that teacher training: “yoga is a constant practice” and you must habitually perform a practice in order to maintain proficiency. Luckily for us, proficiency is achieved just by showing up- whether it’s to your mat, to your favorite meditation bolster, or adhering to the yamas and niyamas on occasions when it may have been easier not to. This dedication and commitment to your abhyasa is a perfect example of tapas… and tapas is an act of radical self-love. 

May we be peaceful, happy, and loved. May we keep showing up for ourselves and each other. May we celebrate our journeys with gratitude always.

The light in me sees, honors, and cherishes the light in all of you. I bow to you with utmost humility. Namaste.

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I will meet you there.” -Rumi.

A Life of Trust and Gratitude

The word for faith used in Yoga is sraddha. It refers to our faith in the practice, a trust in our own life and in the mystery that moves us and connects us. More than ever in times of transition, change and uncertainty, we need to lean into our faith and trust to keep going with our hearts and minds open. The practice of gratitude is a beautiful way to cultivate our faith and stay aligned with the wisdom of yoga.  Gratefulness expands our heart and helps us to see a bigger picture. Gratitude helps us to see with the eyes of love and trust.

Yin yoga sound healing maui
Instructor Danielle Bushell at Yin and Sound Healing yoga class

When we choose to live in gratitude, we are more able to say yes to life and wholeheartedly show up for the moments that we are given. When we befriend the fact that our lives are sacred and temporary, we are better able to remember what matters and to discern where wisdom is directing our attention and choices. Our yoga practice helps us remember and come back to harmony of body, mind and heart again and again. Even when things are uncertain or challenging, it is possible to choose gratefulness to help us see where the wisdom of growth and grace may be. 

Making the intention to live a life of gratefulness and trust is a brave choice, and it a choice that nourishes our heart and soul and keeps our hearts open to aloha and Light. We have been given the amazing wisdom tradition of yoga, a gift that illuminates our lives and helps us to live a life of meaning and gratitude. As we go deeper into our practice and the teachings this year let’s remember how very blessed we are to have and share Yoga! 

Practice

Yoga is a wisdom tradition that has been around for a long time, a philosophy realized and understood only through practice. This is one of the profoundly beautiful things about yoga – it is not only teachings and movements passed down through time, it is brought to life by our direct experience. It is personal and intimate…we breathe life into the teachings of yoga and make it our own with our practice.

There are so many reasons to devote ours selves to the practice of yoga – the resilience that develops over time, the quality of ease and balance in body and mind that comes more and more naturally. We never know what life will bring, or the growth and challenge that we will be called to. But when we practice, we know we are nourishing our strength so we can accept and meet each moment as best we can. 

Francesca in Urdhva Mukha Svanasana

Over many decades, my practice has changed and evolved right along with me. In times of expansion and progress, moments of sadness and loss, passages of forgetting and shadow, yoga has helped me return to my center of gravity. Turning with practice to the sovereign sanctuary within over the years has cultivated a deep steadiness that I give thanks for everyday. 

More than ever, we need our practice to cultivate a rooted, grounded presence that can stay open, fluid and ‘fit’… fit to meet whatever comes next. The more stable we feel, the safer we feel to be open in our heart and mind. Practice develops stability that we can lean into in as we evolve and grow. 

May we be devoted to what nourishes us and brings out the best in us. 

We are so blessed to have the teachings of yoga to illuminate our lives. We hope you will come practice with us soon!

Svadyaya – Know Thyself

Svadyaya, one of the Niyamas, is a beautiful Sanskrit word that means ‘reflecting on our self’, or self-study.  Traditionally, Svadyaya has been the study of sacred texts that gave us insight into our life.  Besides the texts it means even more for our practice on and off the mat. TKV Desikachar described it as ‘anything that helps us understand ourselves’, and is the foundation of a personal practice that truly reflects our deepest needs and aspirations.

Yoga philosophy sessions on the beach and svadyaya – know yourself in every moment

Honest self-inquiry isn’t always easy – it requires a willingness to be compassionate with our self, and look beneath our mind’s rationalizations. Each moment – every practice, every relationship – can be a mirror we look into to see our self, reflecting some truth back to us, giving us feedback about our strengths and the places we need to grow and tend to.  If we are willing to look at our self with the compassionate eyes of love, there is always information there for us that will guide our practice at every level. 

Our svadyaya helps us choose the right tapas, or discipline, based on where we need to develop and the aspirations we have for our growth. When our tapas and sadhana, or practice, is based on our ongoing practice of svadyaya, it supports balance and becomes true self-care. And self-reflection is not a selfish endeavor! As we look within and come to understand ourselves better, we naturally have more compassion and understanding for others.  As we care for ourself in a positive way, we naturally become more available and loving to others. What a blessing! 

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