Heart Full

The first week came and went so fast, it’s a strain to remember it. But I know that after one weekend with these 17 other students, I felt a connection. This was unexpected for me. During my 200 hour training class it took us awhile to build up a sense of camaraderie, a casual sharing of  ”my mat is your mat”. I would say it took us somewhere between week 6-8. Not that we didn’t get along, or have intimate sharing sessions, we just were missing a connection. Our teacher noticed it too, she commented that many of the teacher trainings she’s done the yoginis tended to hang out outside of training. Not so with us, it seemed that outside our love for yoga we really didn’t have that much to talk about it. After our teacher training, a couple of us became good friends, and in fact one of my close friends now, Yadana — is from my 200 hour teacher training.But in this training, after just one weekend I felt like I already knew each and every one yogi, and I liked them. It was as if exactly the right mix of people got together for this journey.

I met Danielle at Yogalocal. She was one of the first instructors I took at the studio, and I’ve since been hooked. Her liquid flow, and inventive sequencing always surprises me with fresh new challenges. I recently got to catch up with after her recent penthouse class.

NYC Yogini: So how did you get started in yoga?

Danielle: I first started exploring yoga in college. I have a dance background so yoga seemed natural, I really connected to the alignment.

NYC Yogini: When did you decide to become a teacher?

Danielle: I actually really struggled with the decision to become a teacher. I thought that if I started teaching it would take away from my practice, and I enjoyed the practice *so* much! I was wrong of course (smile). It’s deepened my practice.

NYC Yogini: How would you describe your class?

Danielle: It depends. Alignment focussed, while still connected to the physical, mental, and emotional practice through the breath. Lately, I’m trying to incorporate the chakras into my class more.

NYC Yogini: Are you working on a particular pose?

Danielle: Eka Pada Galavasana.

(side comment from Ben) What is that exactly?

Danielle: It’s a kind of flying side crow. You know it’s funny, because I use to be able to do it, and then I somehow lost it (puzzled shake of her curls). I structure my classes with a pinnacle pose in mind — even if we don’t do in class, so lately I’ve been doing more hip openers for galavasana.

By now everyone has heard of the Great Lawn Yoga from Flavorpill that never was. It was a good idea. Nearly every part-time / semi-interested yogini turned out for Flavorpill’s Great Lawn Yoga. And it produced the longest line I’ve ever seen. This thing stretched out for miles, true story. I heard figures of around 10,000+ yoginis turning out, and I believed it. I called my friend Yadana who I was planning on practicing with, “I’m sorry I don’t think I can go” I said disappointed, “the line is way too long, I’ll never make it.”  Yadana, always the one with all the solutions recommended, “Don’t worry. Just skip ahead to the front and come all the way up to the VIP tent, we have a ticket for you here.” I stared at my phone in disbelief, sure that finally my hearing loss was finally kicking in, “NO WAY! “, “YES.” She assured me, “just skip to the front and walk all the way up to the VIP tent, it’s got a white top, right next to the stage.” Knowing she is exceedingly reliable (aren’t all teachers?), I did as she told me. I easily walked in front of 3+ miles of forlorn yoginis looking hopelessly to the front of the line. Most of me was wracked with guilt, another angry on their behalf — how long had they been waiting, and were some of them even going to make it? And another part that I kept pushing to the dark corners of my heart, relieved I knew someone “on the inside” so I wouldn’t have to wait.

I’m lucky enough to live in an area surrounded by historically significant sites, it’s tough to say which one is the most historical, but Federal Hall has got to be up there. Originally built in 1700 it was suppose to originally be NYC’s City Hall. later, it served as the fledgling nation’s first capitol, where George Washington (our first commander in chief) was sworn in, and where the Bill of Rights was ratified. The original structure no longer stands, replaced in 1842 by the US Customs House — the building that’s still there today.