Being Yoga 2012 Conference

I’m sitting in the Omega Cafe in Rhinebeck, NY writing to you from the 2012 Being Yoga conference. Being here feels kind of surreal, actually. I first stepped foot on Omega‘s campus in early 2008, and the moment I did, I knew I’d be back. It immediately felt like home to me. There was something enchanting and mystical in the air. My feeling was right, and this place has become an important part of my journey. I’ve visited Omega countless times now, for various workshops and retreats. Every single time, I’ve had a profound experience that added to the depth of magic in my existence. I’ve had creative breakthroughs, intense spiritual awakenings, culinary classes that changed the way I think about cooking, the chance to assist some of my greatest inspirations at workshops, and now I’m fortunate enough to be here blogging about the event this weekend. I know I’ll be coming here for the rest of my life. This place is that special to me.

The Being Yoga Conference this weekend comes at a special time for me as well. Over the past year I’ve really committed to the practice of yoga in my life in a new way. While going through difficult emotional times, many days I’ve felt like the only place I could go was the mat – to be more intimate with my own pain, to feel more compassion for others, to stretch beyond my limitations, to find the place where I thought my edge was – and to keep going. Showing up for myself in that way has been the biggest healing modality I’ve encountered. It’s something so much greater than just exercise, and it’s been calling to me loudly in a way that’s hard to explain…but if you’ve felt it, you know what I’m talking about. So here I am.

Enough about me. ;) Let me tell you about the beautiful things that are happening at Omega this weekend that I feel so grateful to be a part of.

Over the course of the weekend, Omega has welcomed some of the country’s top yoga teachers to lead sessions on truly taking the yoga practice into our lives. There are asana classes, discussions, meditations, music performances, and other practices that support overall health and well-being. When I got the schedule and was told to pick just 5 classes to take, it was a tough decision. There are so many great teachers, but only enough time to fit in 5 slots.

These were my final choices, and the reasoning behind each:

1) Peter Sterios: The Power of Surrender & Intuitive Response (asana class)

2) Seane Corn: Yoga For a Broken Heart (asana class)

3) Sharon Salzberg: Mindfulness (meditation)

4) Sharon Gannon and David Life: The Wild Child of Yoga (asana class)

5) Elena Brower: Gratitude: The Memory of the Heart (asana class)

This schedule means I’m taking 3 physical yoga classes in 1 day, but I couldn’t help it!

I’m looking forward to the Peter Sterios class because I don’t know anything about him – which is why I chose it. I decided to forgo Rodney & Colleen Yee’s class, as well as Cyndi Lee’s, in order to take this one, because I just took their classes in June at Wanderlust (recaps here) and I felt like I should open up and give other people a chance. :)

I’m also really looking forward to Sharon & David, because 2 of my close friends have recently become Jivamukti yoga teachers, and they’ve been gently immersing me in it…which has been quite awesome.

Elena and Seane, well, they both rock, I’ve taken their classes multiple times before, and they are just so good in such different ways. They both crack me open in in just the way I need to be cracked, with their words and with the physical practice.

And Sharon Salzberg’s meditation should be a very welcome break in the day. A good friend of mine who is a meditation retreat junkie recommended Sharon Salzberg to me, so I just felt like it was the right move.

So that’s the deal! I’ve gotta get to bed so I can wake up bright and early for my first class. :)

Thanks for reading. Ever, ever so much more to come.

Learn more about the Being Yoga Conference here.