yogaHOPE’s Teacher’s Blog

Under the yoga tree at Women’s Hope

Last Thursday’s yoga class at Women’s Hope was held outside under the beautiful tree that graces the outdoor deck. It’s such a treat for all to enjoy a beautiful summer day in New England and share in the practice of yoga. We had familiar faces in the class and a group of ladies that have been interested & dedicated to attending class week by week while residing in the house. Class focused on standing poses such as mountain, warrior I and II, side angle, tree, variations of standing balances, twists, core and a long savasana. One of the ladies in class stated she will be attending one more yoga class then completing her stay in the house. She stated how much she enjoyed the yoga classes and truly looked forward to continuing her practice when she leaves the house. In the two years of teaching at WH, I’ve seen many women attend the yoga classes. The asanas may be different, the faces different, but one thing has remained the same. Hearing the repeated words from the ladies of continuing yoga, staying sober and getting healthy. Thank you Mary for your wonderful assists & presence.  -Kat Larsen, RYT

Breath by breath

Today’s class focused on breathing and creating space in the body for new things to come. The ladies that attended class expressed that they hadn’t slept well the night before. Thus, the need for moving gently was apparent. We started with breathing both with deep, long inhalation and exhalation. I could hear the sighs of release for that which was held in the body. As we moved through shoulder opening I could see the head and neck release and movement became natural and organic. I witnessed the ladies coming into their own bodies. Asana continued with variations of cobra, and supported heart openings. It’s a wonderful thing to witness one grab a strap with their own initiative and practice exactly where the body is at that moment. Another woman utilized a chair to assist with balancing in tree pose. The calm that was felt in the room was visible through the expressions of peace on the women’s faces. As class closed with savasana, the exhales of relaxation and letting go we’re heard. One woman stated when leaving, “I feel so good, so much better since I took the class”. It’s so great to see the women smile and feel uplifted as they continue their day on the road to recovery.

Kat Larsen, RYT

What the women are saying…..

Two years of teaching at Women’s Hope

This month celebrates the two year Anniversary of yogaHOPE volunteer yoga teaching at Women’s Hope in Dorchester, MA. It’s been a time full of joy, sweat, laughter, tears, angst and every emotion added in between with one on the path to getting sober and clean.

There have been a dedicated group of volunteer teachers and assistants who have brought their insight of yoga teachings and experience to a wonderful group of women. The women attending yoga class have been from varied backrounds, ages, and life experiences. The one common denominator has been the willingness to participate in a yoga class. The ability to try something new on their path of wellness.

I want to say thank you to all that have attended class and keep coming week after week. The yoga has been a big part of the womens weekly activities both for growth inside the house and to take with them when they leave the house.

Thank you to the fellow teachers and assistants that share in the weekly flow of heart, hope and yoga through yogaHOPE.

Namaste, -Kat Larsen, RYT

Thank you Amanda!!

Creating space at Hello House

Hello everyone,

It’s been awhile since I’ve written on here and something I’ve been meaning to do for some time now.  Since I’ve been back from India, there’s been some new girls at the house and different energy. Many younger girls.  A few of them have a very hard time being still and quiet.  It’s been challenging at times.  I’m thankful to have Mary there with me assisting!

Last night we began in Childs Pose and started to focus on our breath.  This one girl who has a hard time being still kept looking up and around.  We moved from that into some seated stretches and she kept laughing and when I’d come over to assist her and breathe with her she kept saying she couldn’t do it.  I told her to just try, and she kept saying no, and that she was sorry.  I told her there’s nothing to be sorry about and just continued to try to guide her to the breath, letting her know the breath was there to comfort her, to ground her.  She tried for a little while longer and then left the class.  I must admit as much as I wanted her to stay the energy in the class shifted when she left.  The girls all seemed to be more chatty and distracted with her energy present.  When she left, I decided to keep it real simple because it was obvious they were having trouble going within, being still, connecting.  So we did some hip openers on our backs and a nunber of different twists, two supine variations.  I spoke a lot about how when we begin to breath emotions can come up and that we often experience the feeling/sensation right in our gut.  I told them the twists were great to release that bound up energy.  I spoke a lot about breathing to create space for whatever comes up, and then letting the breath begin the process of release.  One girl who has seemed to enjoy yoga talked to me as I adjusted her in Savasana.  She said “I don’t know why I always cry when I am in Savasana, when I am still”  She said it wasn’t that she was sobbing but she would have some tears coming out.  She said the tears came a lot when I guided them into creating space around trauma and difficult situations.  She said she had been through some trauma.  We talked about how the tears were representative of the release of the stored emotions around it, but also, the opening of her heart, her own light again.  It was truly a beautiful moment and I look forward to next week!  ThanksMary and Kristyn for attending!

Amanda

Just Breathe…

The last two classes at Women’s Hope brought a few new faces to yoga class. The ladies new to class appear wide eyed, nervous, and hesitant. We start with the breath. Noticing that most breathing is shallow and short. Emphasizing that their breath is always available to them in times of stress, challenge, or worry. Slowly, sounds of the breath become louder and deeper. A few ladies giggle, and vocal expressions are shared loud and clear in the room. We then move into asana with breath. I hear, “I haven’t moved like this in years, and, “I’m definitely doing yoga when I leave here.” I hear positive, and uplifting messages. One can see the effort placed on breathing and movement. What is shared in one hour of yoga is pretty powerful. It never ceases to amaze me to hear the words of hope and wanting to get sober and well while in class.

Kat Larsen, RYT

“What can you do …?”

At Women’s Hope, the room we use as a yoga room is also the main living room, where their group meetings are held. Last week the large whiteboard was filled with suggestions generated at a group brainstorming session: What can you do when you have the urge to get high? I was thrilled to note that mixed in with ideas like “Talk with a friend,” “See your counselor,” “Take a walk,” “Knit,” “Cook,” etc., they had listed “Breathe,” “Yoga,” and “Meditation”! Guess something’s working!!!

Beth Reisen

Steady & Strong in Mountain Pose

The current group of women attending yoga class at Women’s Hope are vibrant, honest, and excited about yoga. It takes a few minutes for the women to settle into seated meditation. There is much activity outside the yoga room with intakes, chores, and continuous vocal sharings that the need for their yoga time is a priority. We finally settle into a comfortable seated position and begin gentle pranayama. Letting the out breath expel all that is held up inside. Focus is placed on standing steady, strong and proud in what the body can do today. Tadasana. I emphasize acceptance of being that strong Mountain in each movement. Both on the mat and after class. The sequence continues with supine leg extensions to the sky, and into abdominal core work, followed by cobra variations and heart opening. Class closes with tree pose, mountain and savasana.

The messages of standing strong and steady are displayed by the smiles and positive feedback of the yoga class. One statement shared was, “standing strong in yoga, and standing strong in getting sober.” I too, can’t help but smile after hearing that…  Until next time,

Kat Larsen, RYT

Healing Through Yoga

Class today was extremely powerful. The ladies attending wanted to be present and get something from the yoga class. They came into class full of anxiety and stress. We moved with ease and breath. Class began with breathing. Breathing In, Breathing Out. Moving into shoulder and neck openers. Cat/cow, hip openers, balances, core work, reclined twists and then a long meditative savasana. One of the ladies had to leave early on in class, but reentered during tree pose. She truly wanted to partake in the asana and one could see the determination on her face. As a matter of fact all the ladies we’re steady, stable, and all conquering in their balances. It was clearly visible they all went very deep and the poses we’re both external and internal. Some of the comments made by the ladies we’re, “I love yoga”, “This is completely different than what I thought it would be”, ” I really needed this today, you don’t know how much…”

When class ended there was a wonderful sense of peace & serenity in the yoga room. The ladies had a sense of calm confidence which was a beautiful sight to see. It is truly a gift to see the magic of yoga. To witness the powerful effects of tapping into one’s true nature and to begin the process of healing. Namaste.

Kat Larsen, RYT