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TT200 final exams @ Sangha

TT200 final exams @ Sangha

Saturday, October 17, 2015 – Sunday, October 18, 2015
9:30am 09:30

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Final exams / Karma yoga weekend @ Sangha

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“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.” – Rachel Carson
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Today I went with my friend to a forest to pick up some water from a spring to drink at home instead of buying it in plastic bottles. It’s an effort but one worth doing, small changes can make a big impact on both our health and that of mama Earth. More ideas in my blog from a few years back (link in bio). Celebrating mama Earth today and every day.
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#earthday #change #consciousness #love #nature #mallorca

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” ~ MLK
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So sad by the news from my beloved Sri Lanka. Sending love and light to everyone there, hoping this insanity will not cause more hate and suffering. Lost for words.
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#srilanka #prayers #love

Keep close to Nature's heart, yourself; and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean. ~ John Muir
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Washing my spirit clean this week, exploring cliffs, caves and beaches of beautiful Mallorca I’m falling in love with.
I hope you get to have some me time this holiday weekend too.
Full moon shines bright so make sure you stay grounded and give your self some Nature medicine. Love 💗 ・
#photo @sanjinkastelan #fullmoon #nature #ground #metime #vinyasayoga #explore #yogaeveryday #spandayogatribe

In today’s world of Instagram ‘yoga’ challenges, fancy asanas performed in fancy clothes on fancy locations, self-taught yogis which is such a paradoxical term, and more and more yoga teachers separating themselves from the real essence of Yoga, proclaming they teach non-spiritual yoga which itself is a contradiction in terms, it easy to forget what Yoga truly is and has been for millennia.
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As a yoga teacher and someone who has been practicing yoga for two decades, witnessing simultaneously the rapid rise as well as the decline of yoga, I see this as a moral dilemma; should I be silent and believe that Truth always finds its way through the cracks of humanity’s moral decline, or should I speak my mind and heart. I choose the later. I believe yoga is still, always was and always will be, a spiritual practice, a search for the divine. And I believe it’s a message worth spreading as what the word needs right now is more (real) spirituality and less materialism.
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More about this topic in my new blog (in bio). Also, I’m sure this is something many have a different option on. Would love to hear yours. 🙏
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#photo @sanjinkastelan #yoga #spiritualpractice #beyondasana #spiritofyoga #yogaoffthemat #consciousness #truth #spirituality #groundedspirituality

Adopt the pace of nature. Her secret is patience. ~ Ralf Waldo Emerson
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One of the things I had to work on a lot in terms of self-growth is patience and with it, slowing down. During my 20’s and half of my 30’s I was impatient, restless, would get bored easily with everything. I was always busy doing something. I lived two lifetimes when I look back on my life.
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These character traits widely accepted in this day and age, glorified even. To an extent, they are useful, most successful people (whatever that means) are inpatient perfectionists. But, what often lies underneath that constant need (to move, to change, to challenge oneself) isn’t always that great.
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Once I saw that and stopped glorifying certain behaviors and started to see the root cause, things started to shift and change. Being impatient wasn’t something I felt almost proud of any longer, because I saw my neurosis underneath. I saw my perfectionism was masking deep feelings of self-doubt and my overachieving tendencies a deep need to prove my worth. My inability to stand still was a symptom and not a cool character trait. I was running away from my self, from my past, from things I didn’t want to face.
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My life today seems as crazy as it always was. I’m still busy, still juggling a lot, but more often than not, from a different place. From a place filled with the joy of creation and not a need to prove myself. Now I can stand still and just be. I can travel back to the same places all the time and call them home. I love being home and I spend much time alone. All of those characteristics or (rather defenses) are still here, but now I use them as sometimes necessary tools to get things done.
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Our society is built upon materialistic foundations. On facade. On faster, and bigger and stronger, on beautiful from the outside, on more is more. In order to catch up, you must start running like everyone else. If you don’t do a lot, travel a lot, have a lot, you feel unworthy. This is so wrong and unhealthy. I believe it’s high time we change the narrative and we stopped glorifying compensations and start admiring those beautiful qualities of our essence - patience, kindness, softness, truthfulness, love

“Vegans! Why is it they always have to stress their dietary and life choices to everyone?!” This was a comment made by a girl at a beauty salon I go to, behind my back after I told the new cosmetician I’m vegan, not using certain products, and gave her products I bring with. It’s been a while since I stopped taking things like that personally knowing it’s someone else’s shit out of projection, guilt, shame, frustration etc. and has absolutely nothing to do with me. I actually felt sorry for her. But, she made me think.
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I just wanted to avoid anything not approved by my conscience to be used on my skin and nails, but often, even if not called for, I do kinda like to drop the vegan line. And I know many of my fellow vegans do too. When redoing my IG bio, something I occasionally do, ‘vegan’ always stays, I’d rather leave out anything else. Why? Because I’m proud of it. I know I’m doing the right thing beyond any doubt (how many things in life can you actually say that for?) I’m vegan because I’m trying to save other beings from suffering and our beautiful planet from pollution and deforestation and yes, I’m f...ing happy I made the connection. I also know there will come a time (actually it’s here) when our kids will be asking WTF? What were you thinking? WERE you thinking? At the very least, my conscience will be clean. And I like my conscience clean.
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When you’re proud of something it’s on your lips often. Imagine you’re dating Jason Momoa (can’t help it, sorry;). Wouldn’t you be like “Jason and I saw that movie too!” “Jason also likes that restaurant”.. You get the picture. Mommies love to talk about their kids, proud pet parents love to talk about their pets, and when you do something life-changing and you’d like people to try, you bore your friends and family talking about it. All of this is normal. But, when it comes to veganism, it isn’t. Why?
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Veganism is a life style with the intention to end suffering of innocent beings and of our beautiful planet which has already suffered enough in the past 50 years. And this suffering is solely caused by humans. Vegans r doing the right thing. What’s wrong with that? Vegan or not, would love to hear your thoughts

Teaching in beautiful @balanceyoga.frankfurt yoga studio next month and really looking forward connecting to a new community, as well as seeing some familiar faces.
We’ll be flowing through a fun Friday PM class and beautiful Elemental Vinyasa sequences; learning the lessons of Earth, Water, Fire snd Air on the weekend. More info and registration on balanceyoga website - link in bio.
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#photo @sanjinkastelan #vinyasayoga #yogaworkshop #elements #earth #fire #water #air #yogaeveryday #spandayogatribe #yogafrankfurt #yogateacher #yogini #yogaphotography

This summer I’ll be chilling in my house on the hill, surfing every day, prepping new materials for the teacher training and occasionally teach a class, workshop, or lead a meditation session in one of my favourite shala in Olive3 @olive3.yogaretreat Ericeira, Portugal.
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This beauty next to me, my student, assistant, colleague, roomie and most importantly, good friend @jasna.yoga.dance will teach daily classes in Olive3 which I’m really looking forward to myself. If you’re in Portugal this summer, come for a class or just come say hi!:)
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End of September we’re starting with the 200-hour ttc intensive, and if you’re interested in joining us, these classes can be a great prep for the intensive, especially if you live in the area.
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#photography @sanjinkastelan
#yogateacher #yogaclasses #vinyasayoga #vinyasaflow #meditation #spandayogatribe #friends #yogaeveryday #yogaericeira #ericeira

Ｍｉｎｄｆｕｌｎｅｓｓ・
”With everything moving so fast these days, we all struggle to keep up. Evolution takes time, and we haven't yet evolved to be able to process all of the information constantly thrown at us - mostly by our own selves. We have created a world of excesses, and to keep up we need to spend so much time in our heads, in past and future, processing, analysing, planning. We rarely make the time to spend in our bodies and in the present moment. All of this is a recipe for detachment from ourselves, anxiety and ultimately, a detachment from the anchor of the here and now. No wonder mindfulness is a practice on the rise - we are entereing a new era which calls for present, focused, mindful, gentle, and compassionate humans. In order to fully experience the richness of this complex world in which we live, we have to learn to stay HERE. To take in all of it - the sweet and the bitter.”
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Lil’ something on the art of being here and now I wrote for Supersoul @supersoulyoga blog. If you want to read more, link in bio.
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Photo @sanjinkastelan #mindfulness #beherenow #mindfulliving #yoga #yogaoffthemat #blog #inspiration #sunset #srilanka #love #spandayogatribe

Last night I listened to some of my (younger) friends talk about challenges they are facing, and all I could think of was how happy I am with where I am. Complicated relationships, self-doubt, money issues due to loose boundaries, not standing up for yourself... Been there, done that, learned. Of course, I still sometimes fall in the same potholes, but much less often. Now I see them and I go around.
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There are certain things which naturally come with age; some not so cool like wrinkles and slower metabolism, and some really great like experience, self-confidence, more wisdom and that, oh so marvelous lightness of not giving a f..k (about unimportant things).
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As a teenager and a young adult, I was self-conscious about so many things. I guess like most of us, right? Come to think of it, I have spent a good part of my life trying to prove something to myself and everyone else. Trying to prove I’m worthy of love, friendship, work. I guess it’s somewhat natural; we all need to prove ourselves to ourselves, our mothers and fathers, partners, bosses... until there comes a time where we no longer need validation. The time when you no longer feel you need to defend yourself because you don’t take things personally, when you can accept and forgive more easily because you know it’s not your shit. When you know yourself, love yourself and trust yourself, things flow more smoothly. You have the confidence to let go of all which doesn’t resonate with you, you know your worth, you know what you want and you feel good in your skin. You become more conscious about your physical, mental and emotional health, and about how you spend your precious time. Because you know how precious time is.
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But, there’s a catch. You can’t get there just by getting older;). It’s a process which requires practice, self-inquiry, therapy, courage, forgiveness, facing your fears and taking responsibility for your life and your happiness. And it’s a continuous process, but when you embark on the journey, you’ll be closer to your true self with each step. And it’s never too late to start. Just know you can’t rush a tree to grow, but you can enjoy and celebrate the growth.
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#photo @sanjinkastelan

Ｓｈｉｎｅｙｏｕｒｌｉｇｈｔ
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Join me and Belinda Sutan @yogabelinda (plus amazing guest teachers) on a @spanda.vinyasa 200-hour Yoga Alliance accredited teacher training in IN/EX Milano, Italy. The registration for this transformative journey starting in October 2019. and finishing in June next year, is already open.
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This yoga teacher training is based on the method of Integral Vinyasa Yoga with a strong base in anatomy and biomechanics, individual alignment and understanding of natural cycles. We’ll give you all the tools needed to create a healing yoga practice, rather than following a set sequence or simply creating a choreography.
Link in bio for more information or feel free to contact us.
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#photo @sanjinkastelan
#yttc #yogateachertraining #yogateacher #milanoyoga #vinyasa #integralvinyasa #spandavinyasayogaschool #spandayogatribe

“We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.” ~ Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
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A beautiful reminder on this rainy, New Moon day. With so much change happening globally; children rising, women rising, activists given space to inspire, the time has come to change the narrative. To see the big picture, to take flight and rise above, like a bird, free and able to see a truer perspective. We haven’t come here to work, pay bills, buy, sell and consume, pollute, cause suffering, be confined to narrow minded beliefs, lie to ourselves and each other, be told how to behave and what to do, be brainwashed, look like this or like that, try to fit, be at odds with each other. We’re here to meet, support and love one another. We’re here to preserve not to harm. We’re the guardians of now so we can dwell in the eternal. We’re here to learn how to be free again. ・
Question everything you have ever been told, find your own truth. Throw out your TV and look at the moon and the stars instead. Reconnect to your self, to another, to nature and all life. Heart to heart. Forgive. Forgive. Forgive. And don’t be afraid to fly.
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#photography @sanjinkastelan #fly #newmoon #newbeginnings #travelers #stardust #yoga #moments #love #spandayogatribe

A student, now a teacher asked me recently, knowing I don’t prep my classes, when will she feel comfortable enough to “go with the flow” and ditch prepping for hours before each class. “Will I ever be confident to do that?” she asked.
I’m sharing my answer with all of you, hoping it might help, especially teachers out there.
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It’s true I don’t prep my classes, masterclasses or workshops. She knows this because we often discuss it on ttcs. I have an idea or a theme based on who I’m teaching and where, on the season and time of day, etc. (Prakriti) and I have a method of teaching, but that’s it. I like to get a feel of the room and a group, observe and teach according to what I’ve noticed. I try to connect to the energy of the group and feel into it, feel what needs to be transformed, where the energy, or Prana, needs to be transferred. For me, the sequences of asanas are a chance to balance the subtle, the physical transforms when the subtle does.
BUT, this is not how I always taught. It took me many years of teaching experience; teaching classes, workshops, and teacher training courses, to arrive at this point.
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Whether we like it or not, experience does account for something. It actually accounts for much, in life as well as career. What makes people good or great in anything is experience combined with constant learning and an open mind to accept new ideas and change accordingly. One can have a lot of knowledge, but it takes the experience to put that knowledge to use. And vice versa.
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Prep your classes but always leave a room for modifications and adjustment depending on the situation. These adjustments will be small at first, but after a while, with time and experience, they will take more space until you no longer have to prepare but can teach from a different place. Like a chef who can prepare a new and amazing meal on the spot with ingredients, someone else has chosen.
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Teaching yoga is Seva or service. We give this Seva to our students, so everything we do, say, sequence, show, etc should be in service to them. Not to the choreography, form, or ideas of right and wrong. If you teach with this intention in your heart and mind, you can’t go wrong.
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This morning I woke up tired. Meditation didn’t help. Tried to do some asana practice but I couldn’t. I had coffee which I’m trying to quit and lately only drink decaf, but nothing helps. I feel like a deflated balloon. On days like this only thing that helps is canceling everything and going for a forest hike, but that’s not possible right now, there are many things to wrap up with closing the studio. My last month has been intense, to say the least, physically as well as emotionally, and I guess it’s just taking a toll.
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One of the reasons I am sitting here deflated (in a yet another bureaucracy line) is I just don’t know how to ask for help. And when I finally do ask, I feel like I owe something back. Even when someone offers help I’ll say I’m fine when in fact I’m not. But, I’ll happily do things for everyone else. And yes I know where it comes from and why, and it’s much better than before I knew, but still somehow I fall into the same pattern before I even notice it. Anyone out there with the same ‘disease’? Any tips on curing it?;)
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The photos in my phone help. Remembering the day these were taken, my boyz @sanjinkastelan @yogiigace and Seeta the dog, that cliff, that beach, that view, that Douro we had for lunch in Sintra 🙃 and the most amazing sunset at Cabo da Roca. Deflated but grateful. I will be back soon...
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#grateful #portugal #cabodaroca #ericeira #friends #yogateacher #life

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