What are you looking at?

Resident blogger Gillian St. Clair, owner Steadfast and True yoga in Nashville, TN, asks us a very important question. Beware - the answer is not as easy as you think!

 What are you looking at? This question is a doozy.  When I was in India practicing the primary series, I really didn't have a lot of knowledge of yoga. My teacher was very hands on. I thought that’s how he taught - with very physical adjustments and praise when the pose looked right. I didn't realize until a little later that was mainly because we had a language barrier. I didn't understand his words, so he had to use touch. I would get "right, right, right" if a pose "looked" good.  That’s how it had to be. I didn't get to practice with him for years. We didn't talk about injuries or reasons why I was practicing yoga. It was "take the pose" and go.
But I was 22. I liked it being simple -- mentally and physically. It was very hard, but a pose I could do. I was a dancer. I could make shapes. I was also young enough most of the shapes didn't hurt. YET.

Flash forward 10 years -- shit got real.  Married, house payments, 2 businesses, 1 six year old and a lot of yoga under my belt. My focus has changed. Things can't just be pretty anymore. I can't practice only for fun or even to feel good. I HAVE to practice to be okay. People don't realize once you teach yoga it becomes a job. You don't have as much time to practice (unless you’re one of those teachers who demo's the whole class so you can get your practice in, having people pay to practice with you, but that’s a whole other blog grrr....)

   

I find that Drishti is the key to a practice that doesn't just make you feel better about yourself but to be better in yourself. When I talk of Drishti, I'm not just meaning what you see with your eyes like as in physical point of gaze, but  talking of  your intentions for practice. What are you giving your attention to? We need to know why we practice yoga and know that it is allowed to change and should change.

My first yoga class was because my sister asked me to go with her. My second was because I didn't like sucking at something. My first week ended up being a challenge to get through salutations without completely hating them.  My next 3 months were trying to get through them without losing my tempo and breath. My first week in India was remembering I wanted to be there....the list goes on.

Here's the deal. What we look at, what we direct our gaze to, what we focus on takes our attention or intentions. This is good and bad. People who covet what others have will never see what they have. One who only sees the shape won't notice the internal work. People that practice for other people's praise will be less likely to see themselves.

What I am asking is what are you looking at and why are you here? If you don't revisit or revise your intentions for practice I suggest you do sometime.

I hear people all the time say "I can't practice Ashtanga yoga. I get bored". You'll get bored with it if you look at it only from one angle, if you practice it to achieve it on a purely physical level. The thing is it’s never the same. You won't ever get that specific practice back, you won't have that pose ever again. The next time you practice it's different, you’re different, the person next to you might be different. Why are you looking at it like it’s been done before? Why do you think you need more if you haven't finished with what you have?

Now I am not saying everyone go out and practice Ashtanga yoga. I was just using that as an example. I practice many forms of yoga for many different reasons. I always practice for what the day is or what I need the day to be. I don't practice without reason anymore. It’s not always about the challenge. Life is hard.  Your yoga shouldn't always have to be.

What you give your attention takes your attention to or away from. So what are you looking at? Really. Where is your Drishti?

Blessings, 
 -Gillian St.Clair

About Gillian:

I’ve been dancing all my life but from my first yoga class in 1999 to the present day, I step on the mat and I am home. That’s the feeling I try to convey in my yoga classes. Here you are safe to explore and are supported in your journey. Having extensive background in Ashtanga yoga, and a passion for dance and music, my classes fuse creative sequencing with powerful movement. They will require only a few things of you; quality of breath, physical honesty, and mental focus.My Ashtanga classes aren’t as strict as most but I won’t stray from the principles that were clearly given to me. I firmly believe every yogi needs a strong foundation and Ashtanga is my rock.I fuse everything into my Vinyasa classes including daily life experiences. I feel like if we are trying to live in the present than our yoga should reflect that. Which is why Vinyasa resonates so strongly with me and changes daily. I am not going to share anything with you I haven’t experienced on my own.I traveled to Mysore, India to train in Ashtanga yoga under V.K Sheshadre whom I consider to be my first inspiration. His love for life was astonishing, his devotion to family was humbling, his attention to detail was such a blessing and his devotion to the 8 limb path was always evident. I hope to honor that within this studio.

5 to try in the City of Angels

Being originally from CA and having lived in San Francisco and Santa Monica, CA – there are certain things that I miss about city living. I’m spoiled that I get back so often to enjoy some of my favorite things.

Here are 5 things I ALWAYS do when I’m in Santa Monica:

Kreation in Santa Monica:

Priding itself on being a certified green business and offering its customers local farmer’s market products, Kreation restaurant has expanded into the juicing business.

I’ve recently become obsessed with the juice part of their business – mainly their protein powder and master cleanse cold pressed juice.

                                                              Protein Power and Master Cleanse

                                                                     www.kreationjuice.com

Santa Monica Bike Path:

                                                                         Morning Run

As most people know, I’m a devout runner.

The Santa Monica bike path will take you from Santa Monica all the way through Venice Beach.  There is nothing more relaxing to me then running along the coast for miles (plus the people watching is prime at all hours of the day).

Hot 8 Yoga, Santa Monica:

It’s important to me when I travel to keep up my yoga practice. I love a place that feels like my home studio, which is what I found in Hot 8 Yoga.

                                                                 www.hot8yoga.com

My favorite class is the Hot 8 Power Fusion – a combination of vinyasa and bikram, in a heated room, with music, so that you can rock your asana!

Caffe Luxxe/Effie’s Oatcakes

With a toddler and a business, I always need a little mid afternoon pick me up (it’s my one vice!)

I’m not sure if it’s the absolutely amazing , REAL coffee or the beautiful swirl that they put in the cup, but whatever it is, this coffee is the best.

For an added treat, pick up a package of Effie’s Oatcakes, dip and enjoy!

www.caffeluxxe.com

                                                                         Soy Latte

                                                                 www.caffeluxxe.com

Katsuya – Sushi

If I could eat sushi every day, I would. In fact, on my last visit, I had sushi 3 out of the 4 days I was there!

One of my favorite places (although a splurge) is Katsuya in Brentwood.

I try to go early to avoid the LA “scene” and always order double of the following:

Yellow Tail Sashimi w/ Jalapeño

Baked Crab Hand Roll

Crispy Fried Tuna 

                                                                  Crispy Rice Tuna

A Note from Tiffany:

Born and raised in CA, I recently moved to Nashville, TN to be closer to family.  I spent my career in the fashion industry and am so lucky to be able to be part of YogaGlyphs. When I'm not working (or writing blogs), I'm chasing after my 1 year old daughter Skylar, who we loving call 'boo'.

Recipe With a Little "Heart"

We are excited to have guest blogger Kindy Girdley (owner of The Chickpea Catering Company, www.chicpeacateringco.blogspot.com) share one of our favorite recipes this week.

Hello everyone! 

Well, in Nashville today we had ridiculously beautiful weather… kind of disturbing to have temperatures of 70 degrees in December but also kind of lovely.  I’m not a cold weather girl myself, but this kind of weather leaves me feeling rather concerned about global warming and how we may be the next mars! 

Ok… enough of the dramatics, let’s dig into our first food post!!  I’ve chosen a lovely appetizer that goes with any temperature, is always a huge crowd pleaser, and really pretty easy to whip up.  You can also get really creative with the shape.  I have chosen hearts this time, but you can simply use a small ice cream scoop and pop it into a sprayed mini muffin pan, and it takes a lot of the work out of it.  But if you have time, I recommend having fun with it.  Enjoy!!

Polenta Hearts with Caramelized Onion, Goat Cheese & Local Honey

Ingredients: 

For the polenta:

2 cups almond milk

2 cups water

1 tsp. kosher salt

1 cup polenta

1 tsp. onion salt

For the topping:

1 T. extra virgin olive oil

1 T. butter

1 yellow onion, halved and sliced in 1/4" slices

2 oz. goat cheese, crumbled

Local honey to drizzle

Thyme leaves

Method:

Bring the water, milk, and salt to a boil.  Slowly whisk the polenta into the mixture. Turn the heat to low and continue whisking for 5 minutes or until polenta is smooth and creamy.  Add the onion salt.  Spread polenta in a 9x9 baking dish and set aside to cool.

While the polenta is setting up, add the butter and olive oil to a heavy bottomed skillet and set to medium-low heat.  Add the onion, a sprinkle of salt, and cook, stirring occasionally until soft, golden and caramelized.  About 20-25 minutes.

When the polenta is set up, cut out your desired shape (I had a heart shaped cookie cutter) and place on a greased cookie sheet.  Broil until browned and crispy on top and flip to brown the other side.

Place your polenta shapes on your platter and add the onion mixture on top along with the goat cheese, drizzle of honey, and thyme leaves.

*If you are using mini muffin pans, do not broil.  You can bake them at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes until slightly browned.  Then remove and garnish.

A Note From Kindy:

Hello!  My name is Kindy Girdley.  I live in Nashville TN and have a personal chef and catering company.

I began cooking at a very young age as assistants to my parents and grandmothers.  I enjoyed everything from planting and picking to cooking food right from our garden!  You just can’t beat that kind of freshness.  I am originally from Indiana and I remember traveling with my parents to our Kentucky property they rented out to a cattle farmer.  They were able to use the land for a minimal price and we received local free range beef in exchange. Only in the last few years have I remembered how important it is to keep my ingredients as local as possible.  Not only to lower my carbon footprint and for better health, but also to help support our local farmers and communities. Cooking has always been and still is my favorite creative outlet.

Now I get the pleasure of being a part of Yogaglyphs.com as a guest food blogger each month and I am very excited to share some wonderful recipes that are healthy and delicious along with some other useful information.  I hope you enjoy and thanks for reading!