What is a Yoga
Immersion?
My son calls
these my grasshopper glasses. When I first started wearing them it was
challenging to have a conversation with someone because they spent the whole
time looking at themselves, fixing their hair or smiling at weirdly
inappropriate times in the conversation. Now I am used to it and I kinda
like it. Because this is what I strive for as a yoga teacher, to be the one who
holds up the mirror so you can see who you really are, beneath skin and muscle
and bone. In weekly yoga classes we get a glimpse of what the inner landscape
of our beings looks like, but there is only so deep we can go in a 60-90 minute
session. The Anusara yoga immersion is the opportunity to widen the view of the
magnificent vista of our innermost existence. If weekly classes are sporadic or
even regular dates, the Immersion is a committed relationship.
Truth be told, I
like teaching my weekly classes, but I love teaching Immersions! Webster’s
dictionary defines Immersion as: complete involvement in some activity or
interest; or absorption,
concentration, engrossment, enthrallment, awareness, consciousness, raptness,
contemplation, meditation, rumination. The Anusara Immersion is a
systematic, comprehensive approach to engage with all the facets of yoga
practice, including a robust syllabus of asana (postures), pranayama (breath
work), Tantric philosophy (the philosophical system that Anusara yoga is built
upon), anatomy, and meditative practices.
We use a template collaboratively created over many years by many
wonderful and wise teachers so that topics and poses covered build on each
other and flow in a cohesive and intelligent way, with enough time to integrate
the material thoughtfully and mindfully.
Perhaps the most treasured
thing that comes out of these Immersions is the sacred community that develops
among the participants. The group becomes a safe and nurturing space to come
together with like-minded people and have meaningful dialogue and experience in
a way that I think many of us are starved for in our current culture. This doesn’t mean
that we all agree on everything, but a mutual respect arises that allows for
everyone to integrate the concepts we study together in their own life in the
way that makes sense for each individual personally. Many precious and lifelong
friendships arise from Immersion groups.
Yoga scripture
teaches us that, yes, we are our hair and our bodies and all that makes us
beautiful on the outside, but that we are so much deeper and so much more than
any label we put on ourselves, or role that we play in our personal and
professional lives. The Anusara Immersion is a chance for a long,
delicious pause to look deeper than our skin and our habits, to the ever-present
light that is the nature of our existence, as far from us as our daily busy
lives can push it away, and yet as close as our own breath. Or maybe you
just want to learn how to do baby grasshopper pose, and that’s okay too.
Immersion I at
Shree yoga starts September 22nd. More info here.
Early bird discount ends August 7th.
Early bird discount ends August 7th.
If you’d like to
meet Rachel in person and hear more about the program, information sessions
will be held:
Wednesday August
7 8:30 – 9:00 am
Sunday, August 18
6:30 -7:00 pm
Wednesday
September 11 5:30 – 6:00 pm
Text or call
Rachel to RSVP for any session, or with inquiries, questions, concerns, or to
enroll today at 914.980.5879. Register now and join the lovely group already taking
shape to become engrossed, absorbed, enthralled, and enraptured. Make 2019 your
best year ever through the deep and transformational practice of yoga.
