Reflections on Rama

The more I think about Rama, the more I have realized that she is truly revolutionary in her way of teaching yoga. I don't know that much about teaching yoga, but I do now that Rama's style of teaching is beyond this world. I have spent many hours contemplating yoga and what yoga is. My journey began with the rigorous POWER yoga. Whew! My sister fainted once in class and it changed me forever. I wasn't so sure that yoga was what I thought it was. When I saw my sister on the floor, I felt sad. How could something that is supposed to be so healthy make you faint? Looking back on it, there were so many factors that came into play. The yoga was in a heated room. She did't eat properly. (Her pitta was high.) The summer heat was tremendous. So I developed doubts about yoga. I was a beginner and was not sure what to do. When I first was introduced to Rama's style of yoga, I was captivated immediately. When I heard her chant, I cried. I cried from the pure conciousness of her voice. I opened my eyes a fews times to see what was happening. I could not believe that the sound was coming from Rama. I felt like I was listening to the voice of God and I was in a dream. The tears swelled easily, like water pouring through a creek. I knew that I had found my teacher. Then, the asana practice happened.

Everytime I practice with Rama, my body changes. Energy that had been blocked gets moved and my brain gets rewired in some way. I feel like time does not exist and I enter into a portal. The place where the mother is. The place of the womb. The place where I am held by the arms of God. None of this happens externally. Integration. I am not sure if what I am saying makes sense. I just know what the feeling is from deep in my heart and soul. The asana is a yantra and we enter this sacred space each and everytime we move into the position. Why would we rush? Rama taught me how to ease into myself with confidence and patience. Her style of teaching has taught me how to live inside of a postition with God's grace and happiness. And yes, she does say the g-word...GOD. She is the only yoga teacher that I have met that talks about God and with complete faith and truth. The way she moved us from asana to asana was careful and loving. Her voice carried us slowly and gently as if it was wrapped around us like a baby wrapped in a blanket. The asana connected me to the deepest part of myself. Maybe even the forgotten part of myself. There are many experiences of blankness. Complete white canvas moments. I loved being in asana with a feeling of freedom, effortlessness, and esteem. Rama has taught me that asana does not need to be forced; infact asana is effortless with the breathe. Rama teaches this style of yoga from her inner strength of compassion, happiness, and love.

Rama has demonstrated her inner strength through her teachings. She has showed the meaning of true strength as an example of strength. She has taught me how to soften through my muscles and let go.    

More to come. I just wanted to let some of this our for now. Thanks for listening.

Namaste