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Nantucket yoga

Ahimsa

June 16, 2016 • Leave a Comment

Non-violence

Non violence with self

This month’s topic at The Yoga Room Nantucket is Ahimsa.

Ahimsa is commonly translated to mean non-harming or non-violence, sometimes even compassion; both towards oneself and towards others.

If you want to expand your yoga practice off the mat, continue to read on. Ahimsa is one of the first yamas of the yamas + niyamas, which make up the first and second of Patanjali’s 8 Limbs of Yoga. If you’re already like, wait, what? Breathe and continue reading. 🙂

Ahimsa isn’t simply the practice of refraining from violent actions or words, it’s also about abstaining from violent thoughts. Sounds simple, until you start to watch your thoughts.

I spent the last week simply observing the ways in which I may or may not have a violent dialog. I am a vegetarian, borderline vegan. I try not kill ants even though they are totally in my space when I’m preparing my lunch and I couldn’t harm a spider if I tried, despite my general dislike for them (exception:  I like daddy long legs). Here are ways in which violence came up for me this week : Abstaining from violent and harmful actions and thoughts is easy for me when I am comfortable and feeling secure. Not so much when I am presented with information that makes me sad and or angry. Reading about animal rights and legislation that might not get passed makes me fucking pissed. I get angry and then I’m upset. This happened the other day and I started to wash the dishes in the sink and I because I was not being present and feeling upset, I accidentally stepped on the dog’s paw. And then almost immediately, I placed a wet bowl down on the counter top that smashes the ant that I took great care to avoid hurting earlier. Guess what? I was acting in a violent way. But guess what else? I noticed. I changed. I breathed. I thought about what I CAN DO to help make the changes that I want to see happen in the world and I continued to wash the dishes with mindful attention. Here’s another thing that I noticed. I am GREAT at telling myself what I am not good at. Before I get too carried away, I will pause there. As the month goes on, I am continuing to learn more about this beautiful Yama called AHIMSA and as the month unfolds, I will write more.

“The thought manifests as the word. The words manifests as the deed. The deed develops into a habit; And habit hardens into character. So watch the thought and it’s way with care and let it spring from from love born out of concern for all beings… As the shadow follows the body, as we think, we become.”

JJ

x!

JESSICA JENKINS NEWS FLASH

May 29, 2016 • Leave a Comment

I am adding ONE more class to my Summer schedule: 8AM on Sundays at The Yoga Room.

CLICK HERE for my NEW SUMMER SCHEDULE.

Additionally, I am teaching a donation-based class THIS Thursday JUNE 2nd at Follain, Nantucket from 7-8AM.

Reserve your space HERE.

I am partnering up with Danica Connors of Annye’s Whole Foods + Carlisle Sanford Hodges for a TWO – PART herbal support + restorative workshop on June 7TH + June 9TH. Sign up HERE 

Happy Memorial Day!

xx

JJ

Nantucket Yoga

Lian Qi Xing Gong

The practice

March 7, 2016 • Leave a Comment

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I spent the last 4 nights and five days taking care of my nieces and nephews. Life-swapping with my sister. She went on a mini-vacation and I stayed at her house, watching all the kids.

Commuting. Driving. Dropping off. Homework. Baths. Outfits. Laundry. Dinners. Breakfasts. Refereeing fights. Sports. Walking dogs.

I set the alarm for yoga. I didn’t think I’d do it. Too tired. Up too late. Yoga was a last minute thought. I knew if I made it, I’d be happy. I got up. I dropped the kids at school. Hustled home to get dressed and jumped back on the highway. I MADE IT. Two minutes to spare.

Tadasana, Urdhva hastasana, Uttanasana, Anjaneyasana, Plank, Chaturanga dandasana, Urdhva mukha svanasana, Adho mukha svanasana, over and over again. 

The room was warm. The music was soothing + alive. I moved my body. I flowed to my edge. I breathed. In and out. Right to the point where I wanted to give up and I surrendered. On my exhale I would leave behind all that is not needed. I kept going.

Tadasana, Urdhva hastasana, Uttanasana, Anjaneyasana, Plank, Chaturanga dandasana, Urdhva mukha svanasana, Adho mukha svanasana, over and over again. 

Grounding down. Twisting. Inhaling. Rising up. Exhaling. Folding down. Letting go. Inhale to lengthen. Exhale to fall. Opening my throat.

Breathing it all in. Exhaling it all out.

Sanskrit fills my ears. Sweat drips down my skin. My muscles move into the poses without thinking. I come to a place of stillness. Quiet. Presence. I know I’ve made it. I’m home. Nothing else matters. I feel free.

Savasana. Corpse pose. The class is silent. I lay on my mat. I feel grateful. I feel my heartbeat. The sound of the Universe in my chest. Energy gathers. Vibrations rise and fall.

The class is silent, but I still hear it. Inside of me.

Hands to heart center. Bow deep.

I leave class and get back to it. I pick up the kids. Homework. Sports. Dinner. Fights. Bedtime. All with a grateful heart.

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