Author Archive | Christina Bryza

So, this would have been the day I wrote about my second successful thirty-day challenge, the one where I not only meditated for ten minutes each day, but also refrained from going on Facebook more than three times a day. But, even though I reported my progress halfway through the month and all seemed to […]

I tried out a new studio tonight because a yogi in Colorado told me his teacher’s style was influenced by Dharma Mittra. The name was familiar to me, and then I remembered why: One of my friends from my children’s certification program is a teacher at Dharma Yoga in New York. With that connection in […]

I’ve said before that sharing is caring. But in order to share you have to let your own walls down, to be willing to give before you receive. I find this challenging. Not so much the willing to give part–I’m pretty skilled with that. But letting my walls down? That scares the crap out of […]

Ever since I started my own daily practice, I’ve been meaning to post about the details of surya namaskar, or the standard pattern of poses that comprise the sun salutation. However, I found a page today that serves as a good resource, so rather than paraphrase, I will just thank Kitty Williams for her work […]

The longest day of the year. The first day of summer. The sun at its highest and strongest, offering energy for growth and fulfillment. I like all that the summer solstice represents, but I especially like that for the last few years, the summer solstice has meant the opportunity to do yoga in Times Square. […]

I was recently recruited by an organization who’s hiring. I was inspired by the opportunity and so I applied, and now I am in the delicious stage where I don’t yet know what’s decided. But I am hopeful, because I believe the job will allow me to serve my country by doing something that I […]

It’s Day 15 of my current 30-day challenge (oh, ‘scuse me, I mean “guided retreat”) and I have so far been able to avoid Facebook. Only once or twice have I made all three of my daily allotted visits; there may even have been a day I didn’t check in at all. And I’m okay. […]

I taught yoga to first-graders on Friday and I loved it. It’s still too soon to tell, but it would seem my previous prediction, that I would love to teach yoga to kids, is accurate. I tried to write in advance about how psyched I was to get into the classroom–I have a decent draft […]

I was browsing the latest issue of Yoga Journal the other day and came across an intriguing recipe for a homemade sports drink. I whipped up an impromptu liter, let it chill, and am now finding it thoroughly refreshing. The recipe called for the juice of a fresh lemon but that wasn’t happening for me. […]

Last night I took part in The Butterfly Effect Tour, with an open mind and a ready heart. As recently as a year ago I would have scoffed at the concept of yoga as community service. I know this because I specifically remember practicing at a meditation retreat last May and inwardly groaning when the […]

Kirtan is yoga-centric singing, and I like to sing. In the shower, in the car–wherever I think I can get away with it. Also, I am attracted to mysterious beauty. Thus I spent ninety minutes last night ensconced in a small yoga studio, raising my voice with others in praise, lamentation, and gratitude. It was […]

It’s possible that the next thirty days might take longer than a month. After taking a brief break to celebrate my successful attempt at meditating for thirty days in a row, I’m back on course and ready for another round of commitment. But because I am fairly confident I’ll have less of a struggle making […]

I just finished sitting still for ten minutes, for the thirtieth day in a row. My first guided meditation retreat is complete! I haven’t written much if anything about my decision to set aside ten minutes a day for the last month, mostly because I didn’t want to jinx myself. I knew there was a real […]

When you come to passionately believe that the lifestyle you’ve discovered could benefit each and every person you care about, it’s hard not to endorse your product. I’ve been trying to get my mom to start a yoga practice for years now. I don’t want to force it on her, but I suspect that she’d […]

It’s been awhile since I took class at my training studio. I’ve been preoccupied, and a little reluctant. Among other things, I’ve been struggling with feeling rejected since I wasn’t asked to teach right after graduation. But I’ve had some time to reflect, and to take responsibility for my perspective. Today I felt ready to […]

It’s cliche, I know, but it’s also true: Where there’s a will there’s a way. I’m seeing this more clearly than ever before, particularly now that I understand the will won’t always necessarily be my own. I’ve talked about isvara recently–the 5th niyama that refers to surrender. But last night while reading Emotional Yoga I […]

I love teaching yoga! I think I’ve expressed that sentiment before, and I’m pleased/relieved it hasn’t changed. What has changed, however (and thank goodness) is my anxiety about teaching yoga. Near the end of my 200-hour training I realized one aspect of isvara–I surrendered my will and decided to accept my yoga fate. I stopped […]

I’m starting a new training tonight, to get my certification in kids yoga, and I’m sure it will be unlike anything I’ve learned before. (Well, not entirely unlike anything I’ve learned before, since the training is being led by the same person who introduced me to kid yoga during my 200-hour training. But that was […]

I just took a short workshop on how to teach beginners yoga and I am now in an advanced state of overwhelmed. Deep breath. And another. Okay. That’s a bit better. I had semianticipated a reaction like this which is why I was planning to immediately head over to the studio where I did my […]