Kirtan

Happy Sunday, everyone!


Thanks to everyone for coming to the Glowing Body's customer appreciation party last night, it was great to see all you beautiful yogis outside the classroom! Also, a BIG thanks to Tammy Kaousias, Jen Coffin, Ajeet Khalsa, and the rest of the Glowing Body staff for such a great party!

The wine, yogi tea, and desserts were wonderful... but my favorite part? Kirtan, of course!
For those who are unfamiliar with the practice, Kirtan is a tradition from Bhakti yoga, one of the eight limbs of yoga.  Bhakti means "devotion" or "love" and contains different practices to unify the Bhakti yoga practitioner (bhakta) with the Divine.  The practice of Kirtan dates back to ancient India where people would gather in the streets praising deities and losing themselves in a state of bliss.  Kirtan is call and response chanting using the vibrational language of Sanskrit to "purify the mind, open the heart, and awaken the soul". 

What draws me in to Kirtan is the sense of community and connection I feel with myself, others, and the world around me.  The first Kirtan I attended was during my teacher training at the Glowing Body.  Being the third weekend to meet, I was reserved about fully opening my heart and mind to the practice in front of a group of people I just met- it seemed too vulnerable.  However, once the music began it allowed us to all shed our masks and just be.  That continues to be my experience with Kirtan and the reason why I love it so much-you see every individual's personal experience with the chant as well as their contribution to the powerful group energy in the room.  It provides a platform to say "here I am! here we are!", as well as an opportunity to fully realize the deep connections between yourself, others and the Divine.

Here is a link to one of my favorites... enjoy! Om Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu

Cheers to YOU!

Let's party!!!


THIS SATURDAY, from 7:00-10:00 p.m, my home away from home, the Glowing Body is having a customer appreciation party to thank all you wonderful yogis (and everyone else) for your loving support and dedication.  What better way to spend the weekend than giving yourself a pat on the back (and having dessert fireside) and partying with your yoga community? 

Kirtan starts the party off right with a special performance by Sangita Devi from Asheville, NC.  It is a wonderful, soul-satisfying experience.  Maybe one of my favorite aspects of yoga!

After Kirtan, snack on some delicious treats made by your hardworking, talented teachers and GB staff. 

Click here to read more...

See you there :)

In light and love, Ainsley

Shameless plug..

Here is a great video Erica Palmer, journalist extraordinaire, did for a school project.  I had to share- it turned out great! Enjoy :)

Click here to watch

[Insert name here] in Wonderland

I often say if my life were a movie, it would be entitled Ainsley in Wonderland. 

Each and every day is filled with so much beauty and wonder it is almost silly.  I am always reminded of this during the changing of seasons, especially this fall.  Each individual leaf is a work of art in itself; and what luscious colors!  Taking a step back from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives opens our eyes and hearts (the Anusara in me..) to the overwhelming amount of beauty in each moment presented to us. 

I have to admit, some days certainly do not feel like Wonderland (or maybe just seem like the scary part with the Queen of Hearts...), but isn't that what makes our "Wonderland" so wonderful?  Even in those moments, grace and wonder still abound. 
For example, yesterday my schedule was packed with not a moment to spare.  While rushing from yoga to class (thank you, Taylor, for the ride!), I began to fixate on how rushed I was.  After allowing myself about five minutes to get all my "crazy" out, I took a step back and realized I was so busy because I was doing what I love most (teaching & practicing yoga) and fortunate enough to receive an education.  I have to admit, the school part took quite a bit longer to find the "wonder" in during class lecture...but just like in yoga, there is always a balance. 

Start with the minute details of your life and see the wonder.  Some examples:
- The food you are eating- Wow! Doesn't it taste phenomenal?! Isn't it amazing certain ingredients combine to create something so tasty?
- Or, the car you drive: How cool is it that we can take elements, pieces of metal, rubber, and who knows what else (certainly not me) to make a machine that drives you?
- Even crowds: Every individual in that crowd is completely unique.  No two people look the same; they each have their own set of natural abilities, skills, and interesting qualities...just like you.  Now, that is amazing!

As you work your way towards the overall picture- or should I say motion picture- it is surreal how much wonder, beauty and grace move in, around, and through our lives.  The best part? This isn't a movie.  Wonderland is reality. 

In light and love, Ainsley

Had to include some Louis Armstrong-enjoy!

Home Base

Forgive me bloggers, for I have slacked...it has been almost 2 months since my last entry.

In the spirit of the world series, of which I admittedly did not watch, I thought I'd blog about "home base" and (try to) use the sport as an analogy for life.
     What makes home base so distinct from the others? A single is nice, a double better, a triple better still, yet a home run takes the cake every time. Reverting back to my softball days in grade school, there was always something about touching home base that made it so much more satisfying than any other. The idea of home base has transcribed into aspects of life outside baseball. "touching base", having a home base"...Home base to me means my foundation. That ineffable, safe place from which to start endeavors of all kinds. It is the root that makes sense of the other "bases", or areas of my life. From home base, I am able to see more clearly how to realize my intentions & gain perspective.
     In yoga, this essence is often viewed as the root chakra, or muladhara.  Associated with survival, individuality, and groundedness; muladhara is the foundation upon which all chakras flourish and are sustained.
   For me (especially when ruled by vata), it is all too easy to focus on where I want to go rather than where I am in the moment. The old saying, "how do you know where you're going if you don't know where you've been" proves true time and again. After the busy month of October, I found myself feeling out of touch with my home base; focusing on the future rather than the here & now. With the holiday season and exams (!) quickly approaching, there is no time like the present to dust off your home base & from that perspective take a look at life from a solid foundation. There are a few people I consider a "home base" in their own right who both naturally & unconsciously keep me centered and help keep my inner peace. Home bases can be anything: places, people, favorite pastimes (including baseball! & yoga!), journals...& most importantly, that omnipresent space inside you.
     What's your home base? Join me in showing those home bases some love & giving our best effort to hit a "home run" in the amazing game of life.

In light and love, Ainsley

This breath, this moment

The full moon tonight brings lots of energetic shifts and is known to "stir the pot" of life.  As we begin to see the seasons change, change of many different kinds occur as well.  Many times I find myself getting caught up in the  small changes and lose sight of the present moment.  A meditation technique/mantra I've been working with lately came to me when, during a lengthy personal practice, I began to slowly slip away from the present moment and thinking about what I needed to get done as well as other thoughts that so often cloud the mind.  Upon realizing I was focused more on my to-do list than my practice, I started to repeat "this breath, this moment".  As I inhaled, bringing attention to "this breath"; as I exhaled, "this moment".  Slowly, I started to come back to my practice and reach that moment of effortless consciousness (otherwise known as the crack rock of yoga).  In our day to day lives, it is easy to think too much of the many "bigger pictures" and lose sight of the gift each moment brings, breath by breath. 

Especially in light of the anniversary of 9/11, I am reminded more than usual of the importance of each and every breath we take, each and every moment we are alive.  Many times I catch myself wishing things played out differently or had gone differently than I had planned.  But by focusing on this breath, this moment, I am quickly reminded that I have already been given the best situation of all- I am alive! I can breathe! Really, think about it- you are breathing in and out while all the organs in your body are being nourished and maintained by that breath.  It's fascinating! From this perspective, life really is a set of tiny miracles, strung together by each breath, each moment. 

Kale and white bean soup

Happy Thursday!

Given the relentless rainy and cold weather in good ole east Tennessee, I thought I'd share one of my favorite soup recipes to feed the body & soul.  (click here to view the cookbook.) 

Kale and White Bean Soup

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
1/2 onion, finely chopped
1 cup (130 g) peeled and chopped carrots
1 celery stalk, chopped
1/2 cup (75 g) peeled and cubed potatoes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
6 cups (1.4 l) water
2 tablespoons white miso paste
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander (or equal parts cinnamon and nutmeg)
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups (135 g) chopped kale, with hard spine removed
1 (14-ounce/400 g) can white beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
Pinch of Pepper

Directions:
Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.  Add the onion and saute until golden brown, about 4 minutes. 
Add the garlic, carrots, celery, potatoes, and tomato paste, and saute until the ingredients are well combined. 
Add the water, white miso, cumin, coriander, and salt and bring to a boil. 
Lower the heat and summer 30 minutes. 
Add the kale, white beans, and thyme and simmer another half hour. 
Garnish with basil and pepper before serving. 

ENJOY! :)

In light and love, Ainsley