Saturday, July 31, 2010

New poll and my new weight loss story link

Hi Everybody, :)

Thanks for visiting my blog. Please take a moment to scroll down on the right side of the home page and vote in the "Favorite pose" question. While you are there you can also check out my weight loss story buy clicking on "success story" in the About Me section to your right. Thanks for voting!!! Namste.

Friday, July 30, 2010

Saturday's Hatha Yoga Class

Saturday's Hatha Yoga class will be held at 11:00 at the yoga loft upstairs from Etro Salon. Come and blend body, mind and spirit with me. Your first class is still only $5.00 :)

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

My best yoga day ever!!!

Wow!!! Am I dreaming? Is it really true? What a day!!

I subbed for Joy at The Yoga Source today and it went really well. I was a little nervous at first because, well, after all, it's The Yoga Source. It's the premier studio in this area. When the class was over all of the students looked like they were stoned on drugs which means I achieved my goal of teaching a good class. LOL Everyone came up and thanked me and hugged me. It really was great to teach class there. A shout out for Joy here. She is the one who gave me my first chance at The Yoga Source. Thanks Joy!!!

The mail arrived later on in the day and there was my card from the Yoga Alliance. I knew it was coming but seeing it in person really made me happy. I set a goal for myself and I worked hard to achieve it. The Yoga Alliance card told me that I had achieved it.

To wrap up the best yoga day ever, I was informed that I was approved as a sub at The Yoga Source. I am absolutely thrilled. I am also very proud of me. Hey, I did it!! :)

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Hatha Today and Hatha Tomorrow

I am teaching a level one Hatha Yoga class tonight at 6:30 PM in the yoga loft upstairs from Etro Salon. Beginners are welcome and if it's your first class with me the cost is only $5.00. Come and see if you like it. :)

Tomorrow I am subbing for Joy at The Yoga Source on Wiles Road in Coral Springs at 9:00 AM. It is also a level one Hatha Yoga class. If you can't make it tonight maybe you can make it tomorrow. :)

CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS TO ETRO SALON.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Yesterday and Tomorrow

Yesterday I taught two classes. The first one was at Juliana's studio. She is away and I've been subbing for her. I love teaching there. It's my yoga sanctuary. I feel Juliana there and it's also where I did my teacher training so I get such great vibes there. It was a lovely Hatha class with students that were just looking to relax and stretch. It was wonderful.

After Juliana's class I went to the Etro yoga loft and taught another relaxing Hatha class. I was very happy to see two new students there. One was an old friend from Long Beach who I first met in 8th grade and the other was a student who came to my class to support my yoga teaching endeavor. It was a very grounding and centering class with some aromatherapy at the end. I hope they both enjoyed it. I know I did. :)

I maybe subbing again for Juliana on Monday but I'm not completely sure about that yet. I will be definitely be teaching Tuesday night at 6:30 at the Etro loft and I am looking forward to it.

On Wednesday I will be subbing for Joy at the Yoga Source at 9:00 AM. Joy is an extremely talented and experienced teacher. I learn something every time I take a class from her which I am going to do this morning. I am extremely excited about subbing for Joy. I am very honored that she trusts me with her class. I want to publicly thank Joy for giving me this opportunity. Thanks Joy. :)

Friday, July 23, 2010

Hatha Yoga Class

I will be teaching a Hatha Yoga class Saturday at 11:00 AM. The class will be held in the yoga loft upstairs from Etro Salon, 9717 West Sample Road, Coral Springs. If it's your first class just mention the $5.00 introductory offer at the front desk and your first class will be $5.00!! Can't beat that price. Come and say hi. :)
Namaste,
Claudia

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Subbing for Juliana

Today I taught Juliana's Wednesday morning class and it was a wonderful experience. Wednesday's class is Juliana's strongest class and the students are very experienced. I started them with pranayama which included some alternated nostril breathing. From there we went into the asana practice on our backs but I brought the students up to standing pretty quickly. We continued with sun salutations and other standing postures, back bends, forward bends and many other cool postures. I ended the class with a deep relaxation with hands on aromatherapy. I really felt great when it was finished. All the students told me that they loved the class. I am very happy that I was able to sub for Juliana. It was a ball. AndI get to do it again on Monday. Yay!!!

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Tuesdy's Hatha Yoga class is on!!!!

Tuesday's gentle Hatha Yoga class is scheduled for 6:30 PM. I promise a nice relaxing gentle class in a truly lovely space in the loft of Etro Salon. If it's your first class mention $5.00 coupon at the front desk or print out the coupon on the "special deals" page and your introductory class will be $5.00. Hope to see you there. :)

Friday, July 16, 2010

Class Cancellation

Saturday's 11:00 AM Hatha Yoga class has been canceled due to renovations to the studio. My classes will resume Tuesday at 6:30 PM. Sorry to anyone who may have been coming. I'll see you Tuesday or next Saturday.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Class Thursday 9:30 am

I will be teaching class today at 9:30 am upstairs at Etro Salon. I hope to see you there. I also want to let everyone know that there will be no class on Saturday due to some renovations at the studio. My classes will resume on Tuesday 6:30 PM. If it's your first class either bring or mention the $5.00 coupon and at the front desk and your class will be only $5.0o. :)

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Class was fantastic!!!

I taught a beautiful, gentle hatha yoga class last night and I really loved teaching it. The energy in the room was fantastic. Most of the students that came had never done yoga before so it was a chance to go back to basics. It's always good to go back to basics when you teach because sometimes we forget the very basic things that we loved about yoga in the first place. I was reminded to feel the breath in the back of the throat, to synchronize all the movements with the inhalation and exhalation and just enjoy the feeling of a simple spinal twist. No warriors, no handstands, no arm balances. Just mindful and peaceful yoga that truly is my passion. Thank all of you for coming to my class. I hope you enjoyed it and I look forward to progressing our yoga practice together. Next class is tomorrow at 9:30 am. Om, shanti to all.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

CLASS 6:30pm TONIGHT!!!!!

I AM TEACHING HATHA YOGA TONIGHT AT SALON ETRO, 9717 WEST SAMPLE ROAD, CORAL SPRINGS, FL. TONIGHT'S CLASS WILL BE GENTLE AND PEACEFUL. COME IN FOR YOUR INTRODUCTORY $5.00 CLASS. :)

Sunday, July 11, 2010

New poll

In order to better serve you please take the new poll on the right side of this page. It helps us to know who is out there practicing yoga. Thanks, Claudia

Friday, July 9, 2010

BREAKING NEWS!! FIRST CLASS TUESDAY, JULY 13, 6:30 PM


BREAKING NEWS!!!!!
SCHEDULE CHANGE!!!!
FIRST HATHA YOGA CLASS
BEGINNERS AND PEOPLE
SEEKING A GENTLE STRETCH
***TUESDAY, JULY 13, 6:30***

Okay, I couldn't wait
to teach my first class. Yes, I know I had it scheduled for July 27 but I couldn't wait. :) So what does this mean to you? It means that there will be a most wonderful gentle yoga class taught upstairs from Etro Salon at 6:30 and you are invited attend. Actually, you are invited to all of my classes. They will be Tuesdays, 6:30 pm, Thursdays 9:30 am and Saturdays 11:00am. All are welcome to enjoy these calming and peaceful classes. Don't forget to go mention the introductory $5.00 first class when you come to your first class. Yes, it's affordable too. :) I'll see you there.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

My First Class at the new studio

Life in LA. :)



Tuesday, July 26, 6:30pm, be there or be square. :) :) :) I am looking forward to teaching at the new studio. I hope all my locals will come and take an introductory $5.00 class. We'll relax, we'll breathe with awareness, We will move our spines in all 6 directions, we will tone and strengthen safely and we will be in the present moment. Can you think of anything better? I can't. Come by and say hello!!!

Monday, July 5, 2010

CLASSES STARTING!!!!


Classes will start the week of July 26, 2010!!!!! Check out our new schedule!!!! Click here for more information. Click on"special deals" page on the side for an introductory offer.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Happy July 4th!

Have a happy and healthy July 4th. Celebrate America's birthday and celebrate your life. Do healthy things, be grateful for what you have and practice yoga. Live in the present moment. Be in the now. You will be happier for it.

Friday, July 2, 2010

Karma Yoga


According to Swami Sivananda Karma Yoga is doing selfless service. OK, well, what does that mean to me? :) It means that I teach yoga without the expectation of getting paid with money. I am paid by helping the world and community reap the benefits of yoga. This is the type of yoga that I have been doing lately.

When studying for my yoga teacher training final in Whole Foods with Ruth, Courtney and Wendi this man came up to us and asked us if we were talking about yoga. We said that we were and he introduced himself as Lal, the owner of Vastu Yoga in Lauderhill. He explained that his studio is a donation only studio and nobody is ever turned away because of their inability to pay for class. The teachers donate their time without the expectation of being paid. You know, Karma Yoga.

When you are a new yoga teacher you just want to teach and if you don't get paid that's OK too so I called Lal the next day to set up a date to teach. I taught at his studio that next Friday and it was really a wonderful experience. I brought most of the students with me but it was still fun to teach in this lovely space.

When I started teacher training with Juliana she made it quite clear to me that she expected me to give back. In other words to do Karma Yoga. I am glad I was able to have the opportunity to keep the promise that I made to my beloved Guru.

Today it was Ruth's turn to perform Karma Yoga at the Vastu studio. She gave a rocking great class that was appropriate for beginners and more advanced students as well. She actually had 3 people in her class that had never practiced yoga before and she did a wonderful job guiding them through a new experience. They were lucky to have her.

So we have both done Karma Yoga. We are better teachers for it.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Dreams do come true!


One day about 13 years ago I walked into the Coral Springs Art Museum with my friend Sandy to attend my first yoga class. Little did I know that I would love it so much that one day I would study to become a yoga teacher myself. I remember it as if it were just yesterday. I was very nervous when I entered but I was immediately welcomed by the teacher who was sitting in front of about 10 students. She asked me if this was my first class and when I answered yes she told me that she would be sure to keep a special eye on me.

We started the class on our backs in relaxation. Juliana who was the teacher told us to bring our attention to our breath. It was wonderful to just let everything else in the world go and only think about the breath. I relaxed into the class and heard only the words of the teacher. We moved through pranayama (breath control), asana (poses) and finally meditation. I was hooked. I felt so peaceful and joyful when the class was over I knew I had finally found what I was looking for.

I continued going to Juliana's classes at the museum as well as going to her private studio. I also started taking private sessions with her to take my practice to another level. To this day I still take my privates every other Tuesday. They allow Juliana and I to work on my alignment, balance, strength and focus only on me. Sometimes they turn into therapy session. :)

Last year Juliana asked me for my help in getting her paperwork together so that her studio could be approved for teacher training by the Yoga Alliance. It was a lot of work but I knew that if I could get it done I would have the chance to study under the most respected teacher in this area not to mention my own spiritual mentor and guru. We worked together and were able to get everything that was needed. Juliana's first teacher training started last March.

We had 7 students and it was a wide range of people. I was the oldest at 58 and Courtney was the youngest at 18. We all got along very well and bonded over many sessions of yoga philosophy, teaching technique and anatomy. Getting to spend 200 hours with Juliana was amazing. She is so knowledgeable about yoga and we were like sponges taking it all in.

Last Monday night was our graduation on the beach. It was an wonderful event complete with flowers, fruit, chanting, meditation, family and fun. All of the students were dressed in white as we sang and celebrated on the beach. Now I'm a yoga teacher. My dream came true.

By the way, that's me in the graduation picture on the bottom left. :)