Strengthening The Working Body

Since the start of sheltering-in-place I have developed a daily practice of pilates, yoga and gyrokinesis supported by Oakland's The Working Body gym via Zoom. Through this practice I have experienced a deep level of self-calming, caring and centering. At first the practice was filled with crying through losses old and new. Eventually that gave way to finding laughter and building strength. Now I am the strongest I have ever been - physically and emotionally.

Last week I reduced my gym membership level as I began to expend my outdoor practices of biking, walking, hiking, and some swimming. This culminated with me telling a friend today that I am ready to stop attending a regular-virtual-gym and practice on my own combined with spot-sessions with a trainer. 

Ironically, I just now received an email saying that The Working Body is closing because their business model is no longer sustainable. Tears flow again for loss and also for transition. These are difficult times for somatic businesses, of which I include performing arts. So many of my teachers are dancers and theatrical artists, as are many of my colleagues, clients and students. 

This is a time for rethinking the practice of movement; redefining practice and performance spaces. I will continue to support my key instructors as I also redefine my yoga teaching. Can we practice outside together - socially distanced yet still connected? That is my intention for discovery. 

The Working Body - Viyada the Administrator who is their lifeline - you will be missed - you are appreciated and loved.

Choreography of Interdependence

Constructing-Deconstructing

Working virtually I am able to accomplish so much more but it is in the setting of Zoom. When I go out on morning bicycle rides there's an opportunity to see living systems. But I have to take the time to notice, be present, use my senses.

Riding through Jack London Square in Oakland, near the Amtrak Station, I heard men yelling to each other above the street. As I searched for the source I noticed a construction site that was alive with workers moving through the scaffolding.

Stopping to take notice it was clear that they were disassembling the intricate exoskeleton of a newly born building - shedding its cocoon. The men were like tiny organisms coordinating their interdependent system through voice and movement. A practice of trusting communication. 

Baking Bread - Sheltering at Home

My first loaf of bread - made in Oakland.

This is the first loaf of bread I've ever made from scratch. It took me 24 hours to let the dough rise. Normally I wouldn't have the time to venture into baking bread, which I find intimidating. But with time at home I was able to take the baking leap. It is a rustic wholewheat loaf that tasted great with butter and then I used the remainder to make french toast and bread pudding. 

Ida's loaf made in Maryland.

I shared the photo with my family in Maryland and my 8 year-old niece was inspired to use the same recipe (Mark Bittman No Knead Bread) to make her white flour loaf featured in the second photo.

Sheltering at Home - Days 3 & 4 - Oakland, CA

What can I say, Day 3 was difficult. I lost momentum. In reflection I think it was that I didn't have any meetings set and I got lost in jumping between emails and to-do lists. Mid-day I gave up, took a bath, a nap and a walk. Then I asked a client for an extension. That was humbling. I pride myself on getting my work done - and at a high level of quality.

Here's Dhalia cat practicing safe social distancing.

The day turned around with the facilitation of my Golden Gate University class. These students inspire me and their engagement rekindled my motivation.

Day 4, today, was a roller coaster. I went from calm to anxiousness, to letting-go, then ennui, followed by motivation, and then energy! Yes, all of that in 10 hours.

What I notice is that people who are anxious on zoom really stand out in calls. Their frenetic, kinetic, energy dominates. I'm learning to sit back and listen, but not absorb. Also learning to get use to my wrinkles. They are very noticeable in the zoom image. Gives me some feedback as my face gets more tired and stressed in calls and as the day moves along.

Went for a walk after "work" and am noticing that aches and pains I've had for years are disappearing. Is it the lack of commute? Internal focus? Bike riding? Even though my work is nearly overwhelming each day, I feel a sense of calm, purpose and clarity that indicates I'm on the right track with my life.

Tomorrow I teach my first online yoga class via zoom. Thank you zoom, you are the hero in this story.

Sheltering at Home Day 2 - Oakland, CA

Home Office Executive Suite

Awoke in the wee hours and thought, "I need to put love into the world." A couple of ideas came to mind - putting out care packages along Lake Merritt, creating a giving tree, maybe a wishing tree with messages written on paper, or painting little rocks with messages and mandalas to leave along the lake. 

I gathered up my crafting supplies and I have plenty of options. It was rainy this morning so I didn't create my craft project yet. But there is plenty of time to make it happen. 

Late in the afternoon I transformed my dining room table into my desk. This is my home office setup as I monitor 5 email addresses and manage multiple clients and schools. I barely had time to get work done with all the online meetings. Plenty of time to see and be seen, hear and be heard.

Sheltering at Home - Day 1- Notes from Oakland, CA

Practicing Warrior II in my Oakland apartment.

Quiet. That was the first thing I noticed when I awoke this morning. I could hear individual sounds instead of the cacophony of general background humm. Shelter at Home means fewer cars, busses, trains, and planes. Next I heard my cat companion Dhalia purring and felt the warmth of her fur as I reached out to give her a loving touch. This sweet (and sometimes bitchy) creature was sitting on my side, above the covers, as I dozed in bed. The next sound was a garbage truck clunking its gears and then a bird singing its morning song.

In this time of the unknown when everything is so uncertain, I am trying to savor the quiet soundscape, the ease of pace and the time to take care of myself. Without the need to rush into the commute of San Francisco, I am able to take the extra time to...meditate, walk, practice yoga, bike ride, cook. This is in between endless zoom meetings and also getting my work done. 

My job is to hold space for my numerous students at several Bay Area colleges and universities as we meet online for our now virtual, synchronous classes. That means we "see" each other in real time. At first the many faces on the screen, reacting and responding, seemed surreal. But now it is our opportunity to see and be seen, to hear and be heard, to listen and share. Similarly, each student assignment that I grade I am taking more time to write thoughtful comments in the text and students are taking the time to resubmit their work, sharing clearer ideas with more details. Going deep. 

Today's mantra: slow down and notice my surroundings.

Namaste

Update: Went for a bike ride this morning around Lake Merritt. Virtually no cars on the road. It was glorious. Then practiced yoga at home. 

Advance Your Practice: A 3-Month Series

For students who want to deepen their yoga practice from Level I-II to Level II-III, this three-month series focuses on backbends building towards Shoulderstand Salamba Sarvāngāsan. 

This asana is a gateway to incorporating inversions into your practice. Amy, Christine and Joe teach in one-month rotations to guide students in developing alignment, strength, balance, and confidence. 

Fridays, 8-9am

Starts January 12

Anasa Yoga

Attend the full series or drop in when you are available.

Week 1 begins with Ustrasana=Camel Pose.

More info and register here.

February Yoga Urban Retreat: Lunar Practice

Sunset Tree (c) Amy Kweskin

The night is time for slowing down, softening the body, easing the breath and calming the mind. Join me for an evening of nurturing and balancing your body-mind-breath connection. Escape from your urban surroundings as the lights are dimmed, candles lit and soft music and nature sounds fill the studio. 

Treat yourself to two hours of gentle yoga and restorative poses in a safe and nurturing environment.  

Saturday, February 18

6:00 - 8:00pm Yoga Practice

8:00 - 9:00pm Optional Potluck

$20 per person

Register here:

Anasa Yoga
4232 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94619

Bring a friend, as my intention is to create a supportive and nurturing community of practice.

Appropriate for all levels and capabilities.

 

This 2-hour class will be followed by an optional evening potluck in Anasa’s lounge. If you are able to stay after class and gather in community, please bring a dish or beverage to serve 4-6 people.

Find Peace, Calm and Community in 2017 at Monthly Yoga Urban Retreats

Join Amy for a monthly date night to nurture and balance your body-mind-breath connection. Escape from your urban surroundings as the lights are dimmed, candles lit and soft music and nature sounds fill the studio. Amy guides you through a practice of visioning, gentle stretching and breathing that softens into restorative asana (poses) to replenish your life force.

Bring a friend, as Amy’s intention is to create a supportive and nurturing community of practice.

Anasa Yoga

4232 MacArthur Blvd.

Oakland, CA

12 Saturdays of your choice - mark your calendars for this yearlong, monthly treat on 1/21, 2/18, 3/25, 4/22, 5/13, 6/17, 7/22, 8/19, 9/16, 10/14, 11/18, 12/16

6:00 - 8:00pm Yoga Practice

8:00 - 9:00pm Optional Potluck

$20 per person/per session

Appropriate for all levels and capabilities.

This 2-hour class will be followed by an evening potluck in Anasa’s lounge. If you are able to stay after class and gather in community, please bring a dish or beverage to serve 4-6 people.

#Restorative #Yoga Teaching Dates @Anasa Yoga

Join me for 90-minutes of relaxation, renewal and restoration:

Sunday, January 24, 5-6:30pm

This is me in fully supported Viparita Karani on my 46th Birthday in 2015.

Sunday, February 21, 5-6:30pm
Sunday, March 20, 5-6:30pm
Sunday, April 24, 5-6:30pm
Sunday, May 22, 5-6:30pm
Sunday, June 19, 5-6:30pm

Getting Ready for Warriors Parade

Yoga Restoratives

I've launched a new website and blog for my Yoga Restoratives classes I am teaching at Anasa Yoga in Oakland on Sunday nights and starting September 8 at The Yoga Room in Berkeley on Monday nights.

Also started a new twitter feed @YogaRestorativs.

Each week I will be posting my inspiration for the class theme and a mini-practice lesson.

Oakland Riot Cat

When police dispersed the Oakland Occupy Wall Street protestors, a photojournalist captured this image of an officer petting a cute cat. Creative folks picked up the image and have now established the Oakland Riot Cat blog with images that feature variations on the headline. A peaceful moment during a contentious situation.

Wanderlust

As you can guess from following my adventures, I have a wanderlust which kicks in about every two years. This desire to travel, and sometimes relocate, doesn't have to take me across the world, although it certainly has. It can take me to a new apartment across a city. That two year mark is coming up for  in September - twenty four months into living at this current apartment.

But, as I look around my place, I am realizing that everything fits so beautifully. Every nook and cranny is filled with my favorite things. And it doesn't feel too crowded or too empty. Somehow I've also managed on occasion to sleep four people in my little one bedroom apartment and it feels snug but not too overcrowded. Honestly, I can't figure out a better location to live than the one I occupy here in the Bay Area.

The realization that everything around me is sustained, 100%, because of my own doing, kind of blows my mind. I'm completely independent (although sometimes getting a little bridge loan from my parents, quickly repaid) and take care of myself. That's quite an achievement for a woman of 42 living in an expensive metropolitan area. I'm loving every minute of this adventure.

Girl Talk

Ten minutes into my stay-cation I didn't know what to do with myself. Work is done, school is done, books are read...so, I called my friend Karen back east and we caught up. It was a wonderful conversation. Then I spoke with Nancy in LA and that was super. Next, I spoke with Allison in San Luis Obispo and that was wonderful. Followed by Leah in Oakland and finally Hisun also in Oakland. Basically, I had a girl talk day - long time coming.

Tomorrow is reflexology and a massage. Heavenly

My Fashion Interview in the SF Examiner.Online

Wow! My five minutes of Oakland Fashion Fame. Who knew that I was fashionable?

Q&A with Art Institute of California instructor, Amy Kweskin
By Moya Stone
Oakland Fashion Examiner

It's Family Time

My sister Marlene and Brother-in-Law Mandeep are visiting me in sunny California for Memorial Day weekend. Today I inducted Marlene into "urban living" by taking her all around my neighborhood and then walking to a doctor's appointment.

On the way we chatted about all kinds of things and then were interrupted when we spotted a tiny mouse that reminded of us when we had pet mice. We supposedly had two boys but then they had babies. How progressive. We had a good chuckle as Marlene is pregnant. Marlene is super fun hanging out because she is in a food shopping mood. For the record, Marlene hates shopping and in her "new state" she loves it.

Now we're going to see the movie Babies. Full baby indulgence. I love that it is family time.

Suburban Shots

View images I took this morning of Suburban Oakland, along the Piedmont side of Piedmont Avenue. Again, shooting from the hip, allowing my eye and hand to be attracted to the light. Loosening up.

Oakland’s Journey From Seedy to Sizzling

Last weekend the Oakland Museum of California re-opened its doors to much fanfare, in fact, 31 hours of endless partying. What a scene! I was blown away by the crowds, the vibe and once again spotting Amy from Project Runway.

Oakland makes me proud. I've lived here on and off over the past 13 years and am encouraged by the cultural scene that has developed. Let's face it, Oakland is the coolest city in the Bay Area, or should I say the hippest?

Check out this article from the May 2, 2010 New York Times titled Oakland's Journey from Seedy to Sizzling. If you can't take the heat, step aside.

Want to know the latest about Oakland Arts Buzz, join the Oakland Museum of CA twitter feed, where I first learned about this NYT's article.

Food Coma or Food Poisoning?

That last photo of me is pre-disaster. We went out for a fantastic dual birthday dinner of me and Sam and hours later I was, well, reliving the food if you know what I mean. Three days later and I'm still barely on solids and now have some kind of cold or flu. Is this how 41 hits you? Double-fisted punches.

The good news is that I'm back in Oakland and tomorrow I receive a delivery of new furniture from Ikea thanks to the generous underwriting of my grandmothers, parents, sibs and sibs-in-laws. Is this yet another sign that I'm settling into Oakland for the long haul?