Cocoon Yoga

Part of doing something is listening.

Not all things we encounter are meant to inform our lives, but many times we overlook signs, internal knowing, and experiences that we have. Practice noticing things that come up. Learn to discern when it is our inner wisdom speaking to us or perhaps different lessons or guidance coming in unexpected ways. 🪷

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Part of doing something is listening.
We are listening.
To the sun.
To the stars.
To the wind.
— Madeleine L’Engle

I am leading a FREE online 6-week
LoveYourBrain Mindset program for those with traumatic brain injury (including concussion) and their caregivers to explore the benefits of yoga, meditation, and community.

Join me Sundays beginning July 21st at
10am CST / 11am EST / 8am PST

You can register at:
https://www.loveyourbrain.com/mindset
(search for this session by date or my name, Raegan Robinson, when you are selecting your program)

**Program sessions are limited to 13 people**

By bringing awareness to our present experience, mindfulness practices can help us with:
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Cognitive function
• Self-acceptance
• Self-regulation

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Breathing in, I know I am breathing in.
Breathing out, I know I am breathing out.
Breathing in, I notice my in- breath has become deeper.
Breathing out, I notice that my out-breath has become slower...
Breathing in, I calm myself.
Breathing out, I feel at ease.
Breathing in, I smile.
Breathing out, I release.
Breathing in, I dwell in the present moment.
Breathing out, I feel it is a wonderful moment.
- Thích Nhất Hạnh

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On the surface IPATH® may seem like just restorative yoga but is so much more than that.

The IPATH® Method uses therapeutic techniques that include somatic movement and myofascial release that brings ease, length, and balance to the body.

The breath, linked with slow movement and stillness, sends the message to the body that it is safe to soften and release. This calming of the nervous system also helps us allow the body to remain in meditative stillness during practice. This benefits the body and mind.

Come explore this restorative practice that improves posture, eases pain, and opens the body from the comfort of your own home. 🧘🏽🏠🧘🏻‍♂️

Register @ www.theipathmethod.com/booking to join me live:

🪷 Mondays:
IPATH Pilates 8:30am cst/ 9:30am est
IPATH Restorative 11am cst/ 12 pm est

🪷 Tuesdays:
Accessible Yoga 11am cst / 12pm est
IPATH || 1pm cst / 2pm est

🪷 Wednesdays:
IPATH Pilates 9:30am cst / 10:30am est

🪷 Fridays:
IPATH 11:30am cst / 12:30pm est

🪷 Saturdays:
IPATH Pilates 9:30am cst / 10:30 est
IPATH 10:30am cst / 11:30pm est

Pour into yourself the same compassion that you freely give others. 🪷

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“If your compassion does not include yourself it is not complete.”
— Jack Kornfield

When we think about balance, we often think about losing it — losing focus, falling out of a pose, heightened emotions, etc.

🪷 But what if we focused on when we do balance, on and off the mat?

🪷 What does balance feel like in our bodies and our emotions?

🪷 How does balance show up in our actions and reactions?

🪷What does it look like when you feel balanced?

Let me know below ⬇️

No part of our body is separate. It is a fully integrated system continuously giving us feedback on our experiences through thoughts that emerge, changes in our breathing patterns, our emotions, and pains that show up in the body.

These messages are gifts to be present with. Check in with yourself like you would a friend. Notice how the wind is blowing. 🪷

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The mind is like the wind and the body like the sand: if you want to know how the wind is blowing, you can look at the sand.
— Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen

Just breathe.
Ten tiny breaths ...
Seize them.
Feel them.
Love them.
— K.A. Tucker

Take time during your practice to move through each posture with increased awareness of the subtlety of each moment. Notice any shifts in the breath, in sensation, in the mind.

Each movement can be a meditation — a way for us to turn inward and connect with our bodies on a deeper level.

Practicing this way can help bring greater awareness and connection to who we are — physically, emotionally, and mentally, along with experiences we have off the mat and in our daily life.

🪷Raegan

In-person fundraiser all those in New Orleans and the surrounding areas 🧘🏽🧘🏻‍♂️

Join YEAH! YOGA - Youth Empowerment and Healing for a “Post (Jazz)Fest Rest” Yoga Class that is healing-focused and trauma-sensitive — with music, mindfulness, and relaxation.

Pre-register and grab your spot now!
Space is limited 🧘🏽
https://www.yeahyoga.org/events

After class, go downstairs to the Good Karma Cafe to mingle over complimentary post-class refreshments.

Hope to see you there!

✨May 11, 2024
✨ 1pm-3pm cst

Swan River Yoga
2nd Floor (stairs only)
2940 Canal Street | New Orleans, LA 70119

Class donation is tax deductible.
There will be door prizes! 🙂

YEAH! YOGA - Youth Empowerment and Healing is a youth development non-profit that shares the tools of yoga and meditation with youth involved with or impacted by the carceral system in the Greater New Orleans area.yeah.yoga

Yoga is often referred to as a moving meditation. In yoga, one goes deeply inward, connecting with the Divine while simultaneously moving the body in a beneficial and life-enhancing way. One does not force the pose or fall asleep. It is awake, reverent attention.
— Donna Goddard, The Love of Being Loving (Love and Devotion, #1)

We’re so close to Earth that sometimes we forget how beautiful it is. Seen from space, our blue planet is remarkably alive - a living paradise suspended in a vast and hostile cosmos. I...]No other planet has yet been found to have life as we know it.
Seeing its beauty and wonder, astronauts feel great love for the whole Earth. They know billions of people are living out their lives on this little planet, with all their joy, happiness, and suffering. They see violence, wars, famine, and environmental destruction. At the same time, they see clearly that this wonderful little blue planet, so fragile and precious, is irreplaceable.
- Thich Nhat Hanh, The Art Of Living

If you want a true, primordial experience honor the first sound of the Universe: OM.
Hum it until it hums you.
— Dr. Toni Sorenson

Om is the primordial sound of creation —-the original vibration of the universe.

The syllable Om, ॐ combine अ (a) with उ (u) and the chandrabindu (ँ, ṃ).

🪷 A represents the physical plane
🪷 U represents the mental and astral plane
🪷 M represents the whole deep-sleep state

From this vibration, all other vibrations are able to manifest. 

Research has shown that chanting OM at six breaths per minute increased mental alertness, even while being physiologically relaxed (shown by the reduced heart rate).

Additional Benefits of Chanting OM/AUM:
🪷 Calms the mind
🪷 Improves focus and concentration
🪷 Promotes a sense of wellbeing
🪷 Activates the parasympathetic nervous system

While modern society tends to focus primarily on cultivating cognitive intelligence [...] our physical bodies also hold innate intelligence for lifelong vitality.
— Denese Cavanaugh, Founder and creator of The IPATH Method

Less pain is possible!

Poor posture often increases stress on the lower back (lumbar), which over time, can lead to low back pain.

Our modern, sedentary lifestyle, whether at work or play, lends itself to creating habits that are not always optimal for our bodies.

We unconsciously curve downward as we look at screens, slump back into our seats, … This may sound like a reminder from the posture police but the truth is sometimes our habits lead to unexplained pain.

This is why finding ways to rebalance and find alignment in our bodies is so important.

Ready to release and realign?
Contact me about classes (group or individual 🧘🏽 online or in-person)

You can also join me at The IPATH Method
Register @ www.theipathmethod.com/booking to join me live:

🪷 Mondays:
IPATH Pilates 8:30am cst/ 9:30am est
IPATH Restorative 11am cst/ 12 pm est

🪷 Tuesdays:
Accessible Yoga 11am cst / 12pm est
IPATH || 1pm cst / 2pm est

🪷 Wednesdays:
IPATH Pilates 9:30am cst / 10:30am est

🪷 Fridays:
IPATH 11:30am cst / 12:30pm est

🪷 Saturdays:
IPATH Pilates 9:30am cst / 10:30 est
IPATH 10:30am cst / 11:30pm est



[art/image credit: F. Forest ]

The material and the spiritual are but two parts of one universe and one truth. By overstressing one part or the other, man fails to achieve the balance necessary for harmonious development… Practice the art of living in this world without losing your inner peace of mind. Follow the path of balance to reach the inner wondrous garden of Self-Realization.
— Paramahansa Yogananda

Human beings consists of three aspects:

🪷 Physical body

🪷 Inner faculty

🪷 Deep inner Self

According to Vedic science, the deep inner Self (nonchanging pure consciousness) activates the inner faculty (working consciousness), which in turn activates the physical body. A feedback loop is provided by meditation, in which a conscious connection is made with the deep inner Self.

This view of the human being correlates with the scientific view of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in the body. On the cellular level, DNA creates and controls all activities in the body. Information from the DNA proceeds to ribonucleic acid (RNA), then to the amino acids, through which proteins are formed. A feedback loop to the DNA starts a new cycle to provide whatever is needed for the activities of the cell.

In meditation, the feedback loop to the deep inner Self (the seat of knowledge, like DNA) provides inner peace and bliss, which removes the accumulated stresses of life and improves overall health.

[resource: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4895748/ ]

ॐ दुं दुर्गायै नमः
Auṁ Duṁ Durgāyai Namaḥ

Durga is believed to remove suffering and protect from harm.

🪷 Auṁ / Om is the universal sound vibration of all creation

🪷 Duṁ is the seed sound of Durga energy

🪷 Durgāyai is the formal name for the goddess

🪷 Namaḥ is a humble salutation / “I bow to you”

🙏🌹 ❤️

In Sanskrit “durga” means fort or a place that is protected and thus difficult to reach.

Durga, also called Divine Shakti, protects us from evil and misery by destroying evil forces (negative energy and vices-arrogance, jealousy, prejudice, hatred, anger, greed and selfishness.

The ten arms of Durga symbolize that she protects us from all directions — the eight corners and from the sky and earth. Durga’s ten hands hold:

Conch - primordial sound AUM / OM (from which the entire creation emerged). The conch was given by Varuna.

Discuss - show that Durga is the centre of creation. The discuss was given by Vishnu.

Lotus - awakening of spiritual consciousness and seeking of ultimate truth. The lotus was given by Bramha.

Sword - sharpness of intellect and use of discrimination to overcome negativity. The sword was given by Yama.

Bow and arrow - the bow and arrow are symbols of energy. They were gifted by Vayu and Surya.

Trishul - this is a trident with three sharp edges representing the three gunas (or qualities):
• Tamas (inactivity and lethargic tendency)
• Rajas (hyperactivity and desires)
• Sattva (positivity and purity)

As the trident pierces, the compassion of Mother Durga gives the wisdom necessary to conquer the three qualities and emerge victorious. The trishul was given by Shiva.

Mace - symbolise the powers of Vishwakarma, and has the power to destroy as well as create.

Thunderbolt - firmness of spirit and confidence. She empowers unshakable confidence and will. The thunderbolt was gifted by Indra.

Spear: symbolises auspiciousness. This was a gift of Agni that also represents pure, fiery power.

Abhaya Mudra - a position of blessing. It emphasizes on the fact that She will always keep an eye on her devotees and never let them get trapped in fear.



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When we are observing our mind, our body, and our experience in our yoga practice, meditation, or daily life, we often judge and label or even criticize our experience with “should”, “why can’t I”, “if only I”, etc.

By casting these judgments on ourselves we are also taking ourselves into a more cerebral, separated process, and we disconnect from the experience we are having in that moment. We miss the messages, the shifts, and the learning when we begin to judge the observations.

So today, try to practice observing your thoughts, emotions, sensations, and body — not as separate but allowing yourself to experience what is alive in those moments, without judgement, and notice what shows up 🪷

The highest spiritual practice is self-observation without judgment.
— Swami Kripalu

In The IPATH® Method , we use Vitruvian Pose to observe any changes or shifts that have occurred in the body. It is a moment to be in open stillness as you turn inward and notice the nuances of your body. Connecting in this way helps us retrain what we notice and helps build better awareness of how we hold our body and better awareness of our posture. This helps us connect the dots subconsciously (and consciously) when standing.

Interested in The IPATH® Method ? Come practice with me!

https://www.theipathmethod.com/booking

• Mondays:
IPATH Pilates 8:30am cst/ 9:30am est
IPATH Restorative 11am cst/ 12 pm est

• Tuesdays:
Accessible Yoga 11am cst / 12pm est
IPATH || 1pm cst / 2pm est

• Wednesdays:
IPATH Pilates 9:30am cst / 10:30am est

• Fridays:
IPATH 11:30am cst / 12:30pm est

• Saturdays:
IPATH Pilates 9:30am cst / 10:30 est
IPATH 10:30am cst / 11:30pm est

The IPATH® Method

Use your practice to support the things you desire in your life 🧘🏽

“The very heart of yoga practice is abhyasa - steady effort in the direction you want to go.” — Sally Kempton

❤️ 🏡

When pain shows up in the body, we tend to unconsciously compensate — favoring one side versus another or changing how we hold our bodies to avoid the sensation of the pain. Unfortunately, training our body to avoid specific sensations can lead to further imbalances. Eventually, these unconscious habits can begin to create additional pain.

Don’t fall into this cycle. Try the IPATH Method.

IPATH® is a restorative, somatic approach to myofascial release. Give it a try!

IPATH classes are live online, so that you can practice from the comfort of your home or wherever you are.

Register @ www.theipathmethod.com/booking to join me live:

• Mondays:
IPATH Pilates 8:30am cst/ 9:30am est
IPATH Restorative 11am cst/ 12 pm est

• Tuesdays:
Accessible Yoga 11am cst / 12pm est
IPATH || 1pm cst / 2pm est

• Wednesdays:
IPATH Pilates 9:30am cst / 10:30am est

• Fridays:
IPATH 11:30am cst / 12:30pm est

• Saturdays:
IPATH Pilates 9:30am cst / 10:30 est
IPATH 10:30am cst / 11:30pm est

The breath is simple to understand, but the relationship each of us has with it is not. That’s why I believe there is no one size fits all practice.

It’s so important to learn what type(s) of breathing is most supportive for you, how you respond to different breaths, and what state different breaths may put you in. It’s a process of discovery and a process of getting to know yourself better.

When we discover what types of breathing really supports us, we know what tool(s) to draw from when we need it. Being truly connected to our breath can help us tap into what we need in those moments faster than you may realize.

What do you think?🧘🏽

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By changing patterns of breathing, we can change our emotional states and how we think and how we interact with the world.
- Dr. Patricia Gerbarg

Back breathing is a common partnered breathing practice that helps build connection, trust, openness, gratitude, compassion and can improve self-regulation.

To practice:
🪷 Begin by choosing a spot where you can comfortably sit back-to-back in easy pose (legs crossed or you may choose to keep the feet on the floor if a raised seat is more accessible)

🪷 With your backs touching, begin to connect with your breath (keep your awareness first on your own body and breath)

🪷 Once you are feeling connected to your experience and breath, begin shifting your awareness to your partner

🪷 As you both breathe, continue to soften the shoulders. Allow the chest to broaden so the back becomes a steady resting place for your partner

* Let the breath to be as natural as possible
* Notice how the back of your ribcage feels against your partner’s back
* Notice what the breath is communicating

The Universe lives within you.

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[…] the Universe breathes you in an eternal sacred rhythm.
You are the refuge for this Universe.
You are story this Universe writes.
You are the painting this Universe colors.
You are the music of existence.
— Judith Hanson Lasater