Sally Kempton: Emotional Transformation

YJ Entry #20 ~ Sunday, September 28 ~ 8:30 p.m. ~ While Still in Sky!

On Friday afternoon, I attended a meditation workshop with Sally Kempton ~ the topic: A Yoga-Tantra Approach to Emotional Transformation. It was quite fascinating and I definitely can’t do it justice, but here’s what I gleaned.

She talked about each one of us having an “energy signature,” that essence that we convey to others. She offered a method for how we can deal with individuals whose mere presence seems to be an affront to our own. Specifically, she mentioned dealing with those people in our lives whom we WANT to embrace (such as our children or our partners), but maybe the particular timing of the interaction or the energy level is more than we can handle at the moment. (Say for instance, we are returning from … I dunno … a Yoga Journal conference?) Their excitement may be more than we’re ready to embrace, but we don’t want to push them aside. Sally offered that instead of resisting, we simply try to experience their energy as part of our own, a merging of the two, instead of a separation. We allow ourselves to take it all in with the recognition that we are all a part of the whole.

In the remainder of the lecture, she walked us through a guided meditation/technique for processing strong emotions ~ fear, sadness, anger. Instead of stuffing them down, we need to move through them. We want to recognize that “E-motions” should be ENERGY in Motion. The problem comes when the emotions get stuck. The process is very systematic regardless of the emotion you deal with. Sally shared that she has a CD coming out soon which takes the listener through the process. It will be available on her website along with her other offerings. Be sure to check it out.

The plane is about to land at DFW … hopefully I can post this from there.

PW

(Pamela Walsh, Potential Within, Pow Wow …)

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This & That

Entry #14 Friday, September 26th at 3:10 p.m. ~ Estes Park

Just strolling by

Setting the Record Straight ~ So I’m pretty sure the problem last night had nothing to do with my roommates. I have come to believe that I — quite possibly — tried to enter the wrong room. When I saw the girls this morning, they told me they never dead bolted the door. That coupled with the fact that I’ve gone to the wrong room two OTHER times now leads me to believe the problem was self-induced. (Personal Aside: This is what happens when Jen leaves me alone to fend for myself: “It’s not funny, Carlos!”)

Shopping & More Shopping ~ Now that the main conference has started the number of vendors in the marketplace has expanded exponentially. There is SO much to look at and long for, I’m staying away for now.

Today in My Life ~ My schedule today included Hip Openers & Arm Balances with Sianna Sherman, Unveiling the Heart with John, and a panel discussion on Ahimsa in Asana with Judith Lasater, John, Rod Stryker & Aadil Palkhivala. I am about to head to a lecture with Sally Kempton on “A Yoga Tantra Approach to Emotional Transformation” and tonight is the Deva Premal & Miten concert.

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Anusara Follies: The Grand Gathering Talent Show

YJ Entry #10: Thursday, September 25th at 5:40 p.m. ~ Estes Park

Okay, it’s been a very busy 24 hours and I haven’t had an “OM-ment” to write. So much has gone on and I have lots to write about. The Anusara Talent Show/Follies was great fun last night with a wide range of “talent” and I’ll put that in quotes because I’m not sure that’s a totally ACCURATE description of the entire show, but we’ll go with that.

Even though the Grand Gathering technically came to a close last night, today offered some fabulous Anusara teachers for both the half-day intensives or a full day with Desiree. I spent my day with Sienna Sherman in the morning and Amy Ippoliti in the afternoon. All I can say is… if I DID wore socks, they would have been blown off. Both of these dynamic ladies gave me great things to walk away with and showed me more of why I love this whole Anusara thing. Look out! I am SPIRALING out of control.

So, I have limited time to post before John Friend’s Welcoming Remarks for the Main Conference, and I’m giving up my dinner to do so. Ah, the life of a journalist. (Is there nothing I won’t do for you people!?) Because I have lots of different topics and I don’t know how many I can get through, I’ll just post each topic as a new entry in this line up.

First up … the Anusara Follies. There were some great acts including the littlest yogi, and amazing Hoop girls, dance numbers, poems, some people who could actually sing — watch out Simon Cowell — and a hilarious impersonation of John by our friend Brent, the bass player in Shantala. (Side note for the Austin crew: Remember when we built the great kula song list & I threw in Neil Diamond’s “Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show” because I had decided the John Friend must be a bit like Brother Love? Well, Brent apparently had a similar impression.)

I’ve learned this talent show has been a regular feature at Anusara gatherings, and Desiree has a history of planning some great spoofs. This year, she choreographed a group singing a yogi’s version of “Breaking Up is Hard to Do”. This one was about kicking up in handstands. “Don’t take the wall away from me … ‘cuz kicking up is hard to do” It was priceless. And then there was a mezmorizing performance by two Acro Yogis.

But enough of my words, here are some pix.

One of the Dancers ~ in background, John Friend with the band Shantala (Benjy, Steve & Heather)

Ross & Tiffany’s Duet ~ Sing along

The Acro-Yogis take the stage while Shantala plays background

The Mermaid Flies

And the petite yogi helps Benjy Wertheimer of Shantala fly ~ You don’t really grasp this without understanding just what a large presence our Benjy is, so here’s the FULL video!

Dez sets the stage for her upcoming troupe

“Don’t Take Your Wall Away from Me” ~ Watch the Video

“…’cuz kickin’ up is hard to do”

Brent as the Reverend Ananda ~ Playing it “skillfully”

Sharing the Love

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The Embedded Yogi

YJ Entry #7: Wednesday, September 24th at 7:45 a.m. ~ Estes Park

The Embedded Yogi

The sun is rising over the Rockies on the last “official” day of the Anusara Grand Gathering. The air is crisp, the sun is bright, and the SHAKTI is as high as the Rocky Mountains it envelops. It is good to be me.

Inhale reach up …

As the Master class with the master conductor began yesterday morning, we folded into our first forward bend. (Have I mentioned there are 800 of us doing this at the same time?!) Christina ~ my teacher, mentor, friend ~ approached my mat and bent down to greet my upside down face.

“So Pammy,” she excitedly whispered, “Yoga Journal wants to know if it’s okay with you to link to your blog. They asked me to check with you.”

“What?!” Blood rushed to my head, and it wasn’t from the Uttasana. “Uh, well yeah, of course, but uh … WHAT?”

“We’ll talk later,” and off she went about her assisting duties.

Step back.

Downward facing dog.

Exhale. And I think everyone did but me.

* * * * *

After class I met up with Christina who introduced me to Andrea Kowalski, the Online Editorial Director at Yoga Journal magazine. We visited for a few minutes, and I told her I’d love to be linked to their site. I never did ask her how my blog came to her attention, but of course, we all know I LOVE an audience so there ya go!

Later in the day the 328 issue of the My Yoga Journal newsletter came out with an update from Estes Park:

” … the rustic grounds framed by snow-capped mountains are filled with yogis walking arm-in-arm, flying kites, smiling, and embracing. Wish you could be here? Live vicariously through attendee Pamela Walsh of Austin, as she shares her experiences on her personal blog.”

Okay, so I’m just a little jazzed. Shortly thereafter my blog counter started climbing more rapidly than the altitude between Austin and Denver. With an average of about 100 hits daily, my previous best day was 165. (I think it was when I posted my road trip with Mom & Dad which ~ by the way ~ has nothing to do with yoga, but IS quite funny.) In the last 12 hours, I have had close to 900!

So welcome new friends! I hope you’ll poke around and stay awhile. You’ll find my thoughts on heart-based themes, the value of the kula, and my life lessons off the mat. What has this thing called Anusara Yoga taught me? There is beauty in everything.

It is indeed good to be me.

Your Embedded Yogi,

Pammy

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Layout of Anusara Land

YJ Entry #3: Tuesday, September 23rd at 1:40 p.m. ~ Estes Park

I was just about to have my first class with John Friend when I last posted. It’s been a whirlwind during the last 24 hours. I wondered how 800 people were going to practice yoga together, all in the same room. It was amazing. Clearly lots of thought went into the plan. The large room at YMCA of the Rockies is aptly named the Longhouse. The room was taped off into slightly larger than mat perimeters with a stage at due center. Two large projection screens broadcast John from the stage so that everyone could see, making this larger-than-life man, well, larger than life!

Tonya, a lovely young woman with a beautiful practice named served as his demo from up on the stage. (Think Vanna White only she flipped over her body instead of vowels.) Spread out through the building were probably two dozen certified Anusara Yoga teachers (including of course, Christina) who served as his assistants “in the field”. The entire event is being recorded and will be offered as a 4 DVD set.

A few scenes to give you an idea …

The mat footprints

Getting Ready to Rock ~ Shantala on stage with John

The Kula Gathers: AKA “The Merry Band”

And the Band Leader calls us together!

So much more to report, but I’m already late for my 3:00 class with Amy Ippoliti on the Foolproof Method for Planning Your Class. I would expect being on time is probably on her list so doubt I’m off to a good start there. More to come!

Hittin’ the High Notes in Estes Park,

Pammy

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My Yoga Journal CONFERENCE Journal

Greetings from Colorado TEXAS! ~ Rock Climbing Photos Now UP!

Blogging in my room at Estes Park

For the next few weeks, this blog will be an accounting of my experiences at the Yoga Journal Conference and the concurrent Anusara Yoga Grand Gathering in Estes Park, Colorado. This is dedicated to my friends and kula-mates back in Austin. I wish you were here with me and these posts will be my way of sharing the week with you.

Let me first start with a disclaimer: As a general rule, I try to stay away from blogging about the specific details of my day-to-day life. (Frankly, I’m not that interested in what I eat for breakfast and I certainly can’t imagine anyone else is.) That said, for the next 8 days I expect my writing style will be more of “that kind of thing.” I want to capture the essence and experience of this yoga immersion in all its details: twisted, inverted and bended over backwards. So expect to read “what I ate for breakfast” and “what classes I take” and perhaps even photos OF the food I eat as I attempt to chronicle the coming week.

Check back regularly for updates!

UPDATE: 10/3/08 ~ In an effort to make this journal easier to navigate, I have broken it up into individual posts, so it won’t be quite as cumbersome.  As long as I continue to write about the Estes Park Yoga Journal conference and the Anusara Grand Gathering, I’ll make updates to this entry with the appropriate link. If you’ve bookmarked just this particular post, you might want to update it with my Potential Within home page. I hope you’ll continue to check in. My deepest gratitude for all of the comments and support you’ve given me both on and off the site.  It’s been a blast! ~ Pammy

* * * * *

Journal Entries

• 1 ~ Arrival & Anticipation
• 2 ~ Kicking it Off
• 3 ~ A Layout of the Land
• 4 ~ “I Wish that I was Jesse’s Girl”
• 5 ~ Daily Schedule Meets Shopping
• 6 ~ Anusara Yoga Documentary
• 7 ~ The Embedded Yogi
• 8 ~ Purna: Fullness
• 9 ~ Love & Devotion: Husbands, Friends & Teachers
• 10 ~ The Anusara Follies
• 11 ~ Main Conference: Keynote Address
• 12 ~ Awakening Your Senses
• 13 ~ The Pitfalls of Potluck
• 14 ~ This & That
• 15 ~ Friend of a Friend
• 16 ~ Saturday Schedule
• 17 ~ Last Day, Last Class
• 18 ~ Reemerging Like a Lotus
• 19 ~ Musings from the Sky
• 20 ~ Sally Kempton: Emotional Transformation
• 21 ~ Amazing Amy: Foolproof Class Plan
• 22 ~ Links to Other Anusara Blogs
• 23 ~ My Reading Glasses
• 24 ~ Hands on Adjustments with Amy
• 25 ~ Houston, We have a Problem
• 26 ~ Certifiably, Undeniably Unaware
• 27 ~ The Elk of Estes
• 28 ~ Shantala Shines
• 29 ~ Kicking Up is Hard to Do: The Video
• 30 ~ Yes, We have NO Bananas: Inversions with Dez
• ** ~ Not Exactly a YJ Entry But … The Month in Review
• 31 ~ Anusara Yoga: Fill in the Blanks
• 32 ~ Cuttin’ Class
• 33 ~ Teaching Advanced Poses to Beginners
• 34 ~ My Yoga Journal PHOTO Journal
• 35 ~ MP3’s of Estes Park Events
• 36 ~ New Photos Just In!
• 37 ~ Rock Climbing at Estes Park
• 38 ~ California Here I Come!

“And that’s all I have to say about that!”

~ Forrest Gump

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