Upon seeing pictures of Shiva Rea contorted into seemingly inhuman geometrical shapes, even the experienced yogi (or yogini) may be a little hesitant to sign up for a class with the longtime yoga master.
But those who have studied under her know that her teaching style is accessible – and transformative – no matter where you are physically, mentally and spiritually.
Rea grew up in California and teaches yoga all over the world. She has created countless yoga CDs and DVDs, and has been practicing the art since she was 14, revolutionizing it shortly thereafter.
This month, Rea will come to Frederick to give a master class May 16 at All Saints Episcopal Church, and an all-day urban retreat May 17 at Morningside Inn, which includes lunch and tea.
All skill levels are welcome.”We’ll focus on springtime practices for renewal,” said Rea, who has taught at Ananda Shala in the past.
Maria Garre, creative director of the yoga studio, pointed out that 90 percent of its staff is trained in Rea’s style of Prana flow yoga, which she said can’t be said about any other yoga studio in the country.
Having tried countless yoga teachers, Garre knew immediately she had found the right match when she attended a Vinyasa yoga class by Rea at a yoga convention in California.
That was in 2000, and Garre has been a dedicated student ever since.
“Her teaching is very unique,” Garre said. “I literally took her class and I was forever transformed. Her approaches were truly powerful, yet liberating.
It wasn’t rigid or aggravating in any way. … It’s like the difference between biting into peanut brittle or chocolate truffle. And it still feels that way to me.”
Yoga is not about being rigid. It’s about being flexible. It’s about a mindset, a way of life.
“When you’re a beginner, you read a book and you take it so literally,” Rea said.
Rea lives in Pacific Palisades, Calif., with her family. She rises early (perhaps because she was born at 4:01 a.m., she said), beginning each day with meditation.
As a writer for various outlets, including Yoga Journal, she spends about three hours each morning writing, and then it’s time for yoga before lunch – and maybe again during her favorite time to practice : with the sunset. Aerobic exercise is always incorporated into her routine, too – running on the beach, poi, kayaking, cycling, martial arts. She calls it cross training.
“I see it as elemental yoga, to be outdoors,” she said.
As a girl, she was interested in dance and athletics; really, movement in general. And she was always gifted with a finesse that put her above average in these activities.
Discovering yoga as a teenager “was very meditative,” she said. “It really awakened me to the power of self-practice.
There was such a shift, from feeling overwhelmed by emotions and thoughts to feeling there was a space deeper than myself that was not dominated by my personality.
“Yoga complements everything — whatever you’re engaged in,” she said. “And it enhances every spiritual background.”
She has taught people of various faiths — Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Agnostic — and she thinks the practice of yoga strengthens their connection to their spiritual path.
She said it’s important to be able to create a sanctuary and have a personal practice, not be dependent on a class. But the group dynamic is irreplaceable.
“Despite some fragmentation on a social level, we’re very much wired for … community bonding. … Similar to a concert or a sporting event, you can feel the collective flow.”
The health benefits of practicing yoga are seemingly endless.
“In terms of prevention, it’s 1,000 percent,” Rea said.
It improves flexibility, strength, mood, digestion, sleep and circulation. It keeps the endocrine system in balance. The list goes on, and studies are still being made to identify additional rewards, such as yoga acting as an antioxidant on the body.
If you’ve already been diagnosed with a health issue, you can bring that diagnosis to your yoga instructor who will then work with you to heal.
“The No. 1 benefit is you’re really developing your listening skills. You’re learning to listen to the body, learning the language of your body,” Rea said.
“Once you’re linguistically savvy, it’s pretty straightforward. … Yoga is really about self-knowledge.”
Source : http://www.fredericknewspost.com
