I just finished my first ever class on YogaGlo with my lovely collegue Kathryn Budig (I chose the newest class they had with Kathryn called Get your strength on!)
I have no idea why I’ve waited for such a long time to subscribe to YogaGlo – it’s only 18 USD per month and you get a 15-day-trial free of charge! + you get great teachers from the other side of the world straight into you livingroom (or where ever you may be on the road with an Internet access). SO DON’T WAIT, SUBSCRIBE NOW! :)

Right now I’m teaching 13 classes per week. It’s a lot of work, so I’m not able to do my own practice full on every day. I tend to do a short practice and even do it in parts through out the day + do the kind of poses that are challengin to me since I do want to develop in my practice in time. YogaGlo will be great because many of the classes are short (even 20 minutes!) and they upload new classes all the time. I have a bunch of great dvd’s at home too, but this online resource is a wonderful addition!

So try it out (atleast for those 15 days!) and have fun :) www.yogaglo.com

Announcing a wonderful upcoming retreat :: my wonderful fellow flow artist Kirtan is leading a retreat late this year. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Please check out Kirtan’s website + the retreat info here http://thecontentsoul.com/w/retreats/

Urban yoga holiday (+ maybe some gift shopping…?) in New York City just before Christmas… Sounds heavenly doesn’t it!

In case you’re wondering what to do for Midsummer and would like to include yoga and travel in your plans – THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE!

https://www.facebook.com/events/423157451043464/

20-24 juni, MIDSOMMAR! ♥ Med ett alldeles underbart, MAGISKT midsommaraftonsfirande med hela Borntorpet. ♥ ♥ ♥

“Our vision of yoga goes far beyond mere physical excercise, aiming at understanding who we are in essence. In our courses this translates into a full experience of all aspects of yoga in a playful and profound way.”

The focus of the workshop is to free your body of restrictions through movement, and to free your consciousness of identification with form through stillness.

We will drink deep of the source of wellness within ourselves to uncover holistic living, accessed and expressed through yoga asana, somatics, pranayama, meditation, energy healing work, chanting and kirtan, dance, deep rest, stillness, sharing and silence. We allow ourselves to embody our deep, blissful, radiant wisdom in celebration of this very special solstice time of Midsommar!

Somatic Movement Education is a system of neuromuscular education that allows for more ease and freedom of movement in our bodies. Somatic exercises are simple, slow, repetitive movements done comfortably on the floor with a meditative attitude, uniting higher-brain conscious awareness with primal sensory motor circuits. The aim is to recognize and release chronic pain patterns resulting from injury, stress, repetitive motion strain, or habituated incorrect postures.

Prana Flow® Yoga
Prana Flow® Yoga is Shiva Rea’s delicious vinyasa flow yoga. The class contains depth and dynamics in a sensory flow. Rooted in tantric yogic philosophy and sutras, we learn to follow our own spontaneous movements in asana. Classes are composed with carefully selected soundtracks of music that resonates with our innermost pulse. We discover what it’s like to live in the delight of pranashakti – in flow, connection, and conscious awareness.

About the teachers:

American born Ram Charan has been exploring bodywork and meditation for over 20 years. He brings an integrative understanding of the relationship of consciousness and form to his teachings and session work. He is trained in Somatic Education, CraniosacralBiodynamics, and is a very experienced kirtanwallah.

Swedish Mia Hozhona is a devoted jnana yogini, dancer, writer, and photographer. Mia is the first certified Prana Flow® yoga teacher in Sweden. Trained in Prana Flow® Yoga by Shiva Rea, she loves to share the power of organic rhythm, the flow of breath with movement, and the exquisite freedom of sinking into ones inner experience of yoga. (www.littlewing.se)

Ram Charan and Mia (Tripura) met at the feet of their Guru, Sri H.W.L. Poonja, in India in 1991. This is their first time co-teaching a workshop.

Price: 5900kr (including delicious food and accomodation)
Questions & Sign Up: Email us at shambalagatherings@gmail.com

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Om Shanti,
Maria

Miksi liikkua luovalla tavalla? Löysin tämän kauniilla sanomalla varustetun lyhyen haastatteluvideon opettajastani Shiva Reasta. Videon kuvalaatu on jopa häiritsevän pomppiva, mutta sanoma on kuuntelemisen arvoinen ;) Nauttikaa.

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Why move in a creative way? I found this video of my teacher online, that I think has a very beautiful message in it. The picture is awfully bouncy, but the message is really worth listening ;) Enjoy.

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Ride the Current!
Maria

Dancing is not rising to your feet painlessly like a whirl of dust
blown about by the wind. Dancing is when you rise above both
worlds, tearing your heart to pieces and giving up your soul.

- Jalal-ud-Din Rumi

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Marian aikaisen aamun synttäribileet lauantaina Shantissa 9-10.30! Tule mukaan kokemaan tämä vapauttava harjoitus, jonka aloitamme hitailla joogaliikeillä, ja etenemme kohti täysin koreografiatonta luovaa tanssia! Hinta 15 €, tai voit myös käyttää 10x/kuukausikorttiasi.

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Maria’s morning birthday party on Saturday at Shanti 9-10.30! Come and experience this liberatiing practice where we begin with slow yogic movement and make our way towards a completely non-coreographed creative dance! Price 15 € or you can use your 10x/monthly cards.

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Dance dance dance!
Maria

Tässä tekemistä elokuuksi flow-nälkään! :)
http://21daychallenge.yogajournal.com/

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Here’s something to soothe your flow appetite for August! :)
http://21daychallenge.yogajournal.com/

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108 blessings,
Maria

Yksi oman opettajani Shiva Rean tärkeimmistä opettajista, Chuck Miller, saapuu Suomeen pitämään workshopin 16.-18.9.2011 Helsinkiin. Olen ehdottomasti menossa!

Chuck on harjoittanut joogaa vuodesta 1971 ja saanut oppia Astanga joogan suoraan Sri K. Pattabhi Joisilta 1980. Chuckin on opiskellut Pattabhin oppilaana useita kertoja sekä Amerikassa että Intiassa, jossa hän vietti lähes kaksi vuotta seitsemällä matkallaan Mysoreen. Chuckin opetus keskittyy Astanga joogan holistiseen luonteeseen, ja hän opettaa sitä sekä filosofisena että fyysisenä metodina. Chuck tunnetaan myös hänen voimaannuttavista ja haastavista avustuksista asanoissa. Chuck on opettanut joogaa vuodesta 1988, hän on toiminut Ashtanga Yogan johtajana ja hän oli myös yksi alkuperäisen Yoga Works -studion omistajista Santa Monicassa, Californiassa yli 16 vuoden ajan.

Tapahtuman tiedot Studio8:n sivuilla tästä.

Chuckin omat sivut tästä.

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One of my teacher’s, Shiva Rea’s, most important teachers, Chuck Miller, is arriving to Helsinki to teach a workshop September 16-18 2011. I’m definitely going!

Chuck Miller has been practicing yoga earnestly since 1971 and finally learned Ashtanga Yoga from Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in 1980. Studies with Pattabhi include numerous extended and familial encounters in America and nearly 2 years during 7 trips to Mysore , South India. Chuck enjoys teaching with a focus on the wholistic nature of Ashtanga Yoga, teaching it as both a philosophical system as well as a strong practical method. Chuck is known for his gentle but deliberate hands-on adjustments which are both reassuring and challenging. Teaching since 1988 Chuck was Director of Ashtanga Yoga and was a co-owner of the original Yoga Works in Santa Monica , CA , for over 16 years.

More info on the event on Studio8′s website, here.

Chuck’s website, here.

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108 kilos of sunshine to all of you fellow followers of the flow,
Maria

Lauantaina 9.4. olin pitämässä jooga-workshopia yogaROCKSissa Lahdessa. Meillä oli aivan fantastinen päivä aamu- ja iltapäiväharjoituksineen. Kiitos kaikille osallistujille – te teitte päivästä upean kokemuksen! Meillä oli mahtava energia ja ainutlaatuinen tunnelma! Muistakaa “tiskirätit” ;)! Ohessa hieman kuvia.

Workshopin jälkeen minulla oli mahdollisuus kokeilla boulderointia. Ensimmäistä kertaa elämässäni! Viiden tunnin jooganopetuksen jälkeen olo oli jo melkoisen “keitetty”, mutta halusin ehdottomasti päästä kokeilemaan kiipeämistä. Minusta tuntuu, että kiipeäminen taitaa olla yksi joogan aikaisimmista ilmenemismuodoista. Ihminen on varmasti joutunut kiipeämään lukemattomiin puihin saadakseen ravintoa. Kiivetessäni tunsin olevani sataprosenttisen läsnä, ja kehoni joutui etsimään jokaisella sekunnin murto-osalla itsestään kestävyyttä, mieleni tyyneyttä ja tunteeni rohkeutta. Aivan upea kokemus! Kiipesin muutaman kerran seinää uudelleen, ja sen jälkeen kyynärvarteni tuntuivat olevan tulessa. Kyynärvarren lihakseni eivät todennäköiseni ole koskaan olleet niin täynnä verta kuin silloin. Fantastista! Suosittelen lämpimästi kaikille! Taas kerran yksi kokemus, joka herättää sisäisen lapsesi!

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On Saturday 9th April I was teaching a yoga workshop at yogaROCKS in Lahti, Finland. We had a fantastic day, a morning and an afternoon practice. A big thank you to all participants – you mad the day magnificent! We had such a great energy and a unique experience! Remember the “cleaning cloths” ;)! Some pics included.

After the workshop I had a chance to try out bouldering. For the first time in my life! After five hours of teaching yoga I already felt pretty “cooked”, but I absolutely wanted to try climbing. I think climbing must be one of the first forms of yoga. Humans must have climbed a cazillion trees to get food. When I was climbing I felt a hundred percent present. My body had to find stamina, my mind needed to be calm and I had to feel corageous at every second. What an amazing experience! I climbed the wall a few times over and again, after which my forearms felt like they were on fire. I bet my arms have never been as pumped of blood as then. Fantastic! And highly recommended to everyone! Yet another experience that will definitely awaken your inner child!

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ROCK the flow!
Maria

Lue koko juttu osoitteessa :: Read the full story from ::

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-2216/Q-A-with-Shiva-Rea-On-Yoga-Chakras.html

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Kaipaatko kesän alkuun hieman Espanjan aurinko? Maaseudun rauhaa? Päivittäisiä joogaharjoituksia? Ja lisukkeeksi rentouttavia spa-hoitoja ja hierontoja? Tämä retriitti on sinulle!

Shakti Sadhana retriitillä pääset nauttimaan vinyasa flow -joogasta ja turvallisista avustuksista kahden taitavan opettajan, Delamayn ja Svatin johdolla. Aamuisin vuorossa energeettinen musiikin säestämä harjoitus, iltapäivisin rauhoittava ja maadoittava harjoitus.

Molino del Rey on kaunis retriittikeskus Andalusian maaseudulla, noin 50 minuutin matkan päässä Costa del Solin ja Ronda-kaupungin turistikeskuksista. Molino del Rey on toiminut alunperin vesimyllynä. Se sijaitsee vuoristoisen Sierra de las Nieves -nimisen luonnonsuojelualueen sydämessä vihreässä laaksossa, joka on täynnä appelsiini- ja avokadolehtoja. Rio Grande -joen lähteen puhtaat vedet virtaavat keskuksen läpi tarjoten mahtavimmat kylpymahdollisuudet retriittiläisille.

Ilmoittautumiset ja lisätiedot:
http://www.yogarhythms.net/retreats

Mainitse ilmoittautuessasi “Maria Niittylä”, saat -100 € alennusta!

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Craving for some Spanish sunshine to begin your summer with? Peace and quiet in the country side? Daily yoga practice? And in addition a few relaxing spa treatments and massage? This retreat is definitely for you!

During your Shakti Sadhana Retreat you will experience Vinyasa flow Yoga classes and safe adjustments from two dedicated and experienced teachers, Delamay and Svati. In the morning invigorate your body and mind with an energetic practice, in the afternoon you can enjoy a pacifying and grounding practice.

A beautiful retreat centre in the Andalusian countryside. Only 50 minutes from the tourist resorts of the Costa del Sol & the magical city of Ronda. Molino del Rey was originally restored from an old water mill, nestled in the heart of mountain range, Nature Reserve “Sierra de las Nieves” a fertile green valley, flanked by orange & avocado groves. A spring of the river “Rio Grande” is born at the entrance of the hamlet. From it the purest of waters pour through the centre, offering bathing facilities to retreaters.

Registration and info:
http://www.yogarhythms.net/retreats

Mention “Maria Niittylä” when you make your reservation to get -100 € discount!

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Jai ma Shakti!
Maria