Bryan Kest Power Yoga Master Class - Review

Welp. Last night, I finally got to attend the Bryan Kest Power Yoga Master Class at Amazing Yoga in Shadyside. It's very hard to put an experience like this into words, but I will do my best.

Bryan Kest Power Yoga

If you've never seen or heard Bryan Kest, he really has a presence about him. For some reason, he's always reminded me a bit of Adam Sandler. (I'm not sure if that's in looks, humor or accent, but either way, that might give you a base.) Famous for his blunt, casual style, Bryan isn't afraid to tell it like it is and his philosophy and thoughts about yoga are probably the most genuine and challenging ideas I've heard from a teacher. He was not there to lead us through physical postures. He was there to guide us on a journey of awareness and acknowledgement that asanas are a very small part of yoga practice.

"Can you think of how we're going to solve any problem on this planet with loose hamstrings?" - Bryan Kest

He went on to explain that "yogis didn't give a shit about looking good." It's true. Yoga was not developed to become an exercise fad. The only reason physical asanas were created was that so yogis could safely remain sedentary in their meditative states for longer periods of time. Each yoga posture is meant to gently stimulate certain areas of the body, but should only be approached and performed in a comfortable way.

"The objective of yoga is not to make you loose. It's to make you well. All these movements are creative ways to access and care for your whole body." - Bryan Kest

Just as we are mostly sedentary in our daily lives, so do we benefit from these postures stimulating various muscles, ligaments, joints, cartilage...etc. But this is all assuming that during the postures, we are achieving or working toward awareness of our bodies and mind. Yoga practice is meant to be a time that we spend breaking mental patterns and habits, not continuing them during practice. These could be patterns of anger, self-judgement, stress, competitiveness or distraction that we do not even know we have. We are all addicted to our own thoughts and breaking any addiction is not easy.

"We will experience withdrawal symptoms from our addiction to our own stupid thoughts. You give us peace in this culture, we get bored." - Bryan Kest

The goal of all yoga is truly the cessation of the incessant whirling of an uncontrolled mind. It's not blanking out all thought, it's not a creepy new age trend and it's not a religion. It's consciously practicing to become alert to what we're thinking, what we're doing and how we're acting. Bryan mentioned a Harvard study that a shocking 85% of the thoughts we think each day are the very same thoughts we had yesterday:

"85% of the stuff if your head is complete shit. And I didn't say that, Harvard did." - Bryan Kest

What an amazing wake-up call at how the mind can wander in circles without us even realizing it. He went on to explain that many yoga practitioners in our culture never really challenge this mental state. We sit quietly. We endure the quiet time, trying to keep our thoughts from wandering. But how many of us would have attended this class if it was a Bryan Kest meditation workshop? Many people only practice for the physical benefits. Though he coined the term "Power Yoga," he called it 'stupid.' He wanted it to mean that it was 'empowering' and 'powerful,' but the term has been warped to mean something totally different that we cannot even define.

As for the physical aspect of Bryan's class, he warned us repeatedly that it would be the longest class of our lives, that we would be glad he talked so long, that it might feel hypocritical to everything he just talked about, but at the same time, reminded us that doing any pose that doesn't feel good is pointless.

"Proper form does not keep you safe. Gentleness keeps you safe." -Bryan Kest

Bryan did not want his class to look like "a bunch of programmed robots." He encouraged everyone to truly drop their ego and have the humility to modify each and every pose as necessary. The class was extremely challenging, both physically and mentally. We were packed like sardines and toward the end of class, even breathing the hot, sticky air felt like a real challenge. But technically, anyone could have done that class. Based on what he said, choosing to be aware of my body's warnings, I was not at all ashamed to modify. It felt good to move how I wanted, in and out of poses when I needed to and choosing whatever form or modifications I needed. He encouraged us to never take your eyes away from your own mat. With all that on my mind, I felt exhausted, but great when class was over. I was not sore because I was careful and gentle with my body. I wasn't there to throw myself through a series of poses. I was there to learn to control myself, my mind and my tendencies and it truly felt like the most powerful class I've ever experienced.

If you ever get a chance to see or meet Bryan Kest, I can't recommend it enough. His class was a freeing experience from what might be considered as "yoga bravado" present in many studios.

  "I don't give a shit if you do yoga or not." - Bryan Kest

give up aspirations

The Pittsburgh yoga community is really coming along. Just this past month, they held their first annual yoga fest, featuring Sherri Baptiste. During that event, Sherri Baptiste reiterated over and over that, "the Pittsburgh yoga community is really doing something big," and although I got the feeling that she probably repeats this all over the world to every city she travels to, she was right about Pittsburgh.

Bryan Kest - yoga instructor & pioneer of the term "Power" Yoga

In the past few years, more and more studios have opened up and succeeded in the Pittsburgh  area. The more serious yogis we have, the more demand there is for seriously awesome instructors. Bryan Kest is a world-renowned yogi, teacher and mentor. I've admired his teachings in various videos and books, but in October, I will have the opportunity to take a Power Yoga Master Class from him, right here in Pittsburgh. To give you an idea of his popularity, here's what Bryan's schedule looks like: Mexico, Guam, Philippines, Australia, Korea...Pittsburgh. :)

As the date draws closer to the sold-out October class, I find myself becoming somewhat... nervous? Between my long daily commute for my full-time job and teaching yoga part-time in the evenings, I've only been squeezing in short daily practices for myself. I'm thankful for each practice, but I feel like I've plateaued physically and mentally. My little bucket-list of goal-poses has gathered dust and I'm afraid that I'll be unprepared for such a demanding class.

Just as I my guilt really began to settle-in and I felt like a lazy yogi and inadequate teacher who would spend half of this master class drooling in Child's pose, I ran across this quote from none-other than Mr. Kest himself:

"A yoga class is not a contest between you or anyone you may be practicing with. It isn't even a contest between you and yourself. Forget about how loose and strong you used to be way back when. Give up any aspirations of how loose and strong you hope to be one day. Just be where you are! Make that o.k. Doing yoga correctly means not trying to get anywhere, but being where you are as fully as possible. You'll benefit from class by your effort regardless of how far or deep you get. As long as you are feeling it and you are breathing calmly, you're practicing correctly." - Bryan Kest

  

I know all this. But in my nervous excitement for this class, how easily I had forgotten my real goals! No one should be judging me, but I should not be judging myself either. "Giving up aspirations" is unnatural for me and finding peace exactly where I am is a part of my yoga journey that I struggle with. In our culture and as a teacher, it's easy to slip into the habit of being goal and results-oriented. Sometimes we all need little reminders to practice contentment and self-acceptance with the same effort we put into asana.

I hope this blog post finds you well and content with wherever you are! Namaste!

Read the follow-up post on the Bryan Kest class here.

6 tips for savoring savasana

Savasana Pose - spine and neck are elongated, feet and legs relax open, palms face upward

Deepen mental focus throughout your life and yoga practice by working on your savasana.



Savasana, Sanskrit for "Corpse Pose," is the supine resting posture typically performed at the end of a yoga class. Yogis all over the world use this time to quiet the mind and body, allowing the asana practice to settle in. Simultaneously existing as one of the easiest and most difficult yoga postures, it deserves our attention and even a blog post. What should we really be doing in savasana? How does savasana really impact our yoga practice? And what can we do to improve it? The following are a few tips that will (hopefully) help you to work toward your best savasana...ever:

1) Take your time settling in: Whether or not your instructor cues it every time, take a few moments before complete stillness to really let go. Scan your body a few inches at a time from head to toes, flexing and releasing any areas of tension. Pay special attention to your neck and shoulders, lower back and hips, imagining that you are melting into your mat. If lying in the typical savasana (as shown above) isn't completely comfortable, feel free to move your legs or arms into whatever posture feels best for you; just try to find a reclined pose in which you can remain comfortable and stationary for a few minutes and keep your eyes closed.

2) Release the ujjayi breath: Your strong ujjayi breath was used to build and maintain internal heat throughout practice, carrying you through the asanas and helping to keep your mind focused. Now that you're in savasana, allow your breath to return to it's natural rhythm, cooling down the body. You may still continue to focus on your breathing to help keep your mind from wandering.

3) Realize that savasana is essential: When you're doing your best to squeeze in a practice or you're plotting out the rest of you're important day, it may be tempting to skip or shorten your time in savasana. Maybe you feel that the real tangible portion of practice is over and now you are just biding your time for a few minutes before rolling up the mat. This attitude could not be farther from the truth. 

Unfortunately, the folks who most desperately need savasana are often the ones who truly take it for granted. They might feel confined, awkward and restless or just consider it as a time to run through the upcoming "to-do" list. (If this is you, please read-on!) Savasana is arguably the most important part of practice. Especially if we take no other time for meditation or prayer, it is imperative that we use our savasana to intentionally practice slowing down the spinning mind and decompressing. There is plenty of interesting science behind the benefits of meditation and relaxation, but here is one summary in simple terms by yogi Bryan Kest:

"Thought alone can facilitate the secretion of hormones and chemicals into the bloodstream that provoke a mental or physical reaction. The heart rate may rise, blood pressure become elevated, (hypertension), stomach may secrete acid, the muscles may tighten, etc... So within this corpse pose there is a practice happening..." - Bryan Kest

(Read a bit more about the importance of savasana here.)

We are pursuing intentional and focused repose of the mind, body and spirit. Through repetition in savasana, we strive to achieve and refine physiological relaxation during a relaxed state; off the mat, we are then more likely to remain calm or unwind quicker during times of stress.

4) Set an intention: Savasana is a time to learn to be present with yourself, connecting your mind, body and spirit. Strive to remain conscious and focus on being totally present in the moment. If there is something you're struggling with or working on in your life or yoga practice, use this time to meditate or pray about your goal. Whether it is patience, strength, confidence or peace, your positive energy will have a positive impact.

5) Stop with the fidgeting: Do you really have an itch there or are you just starting to become uncomfortable with the silence? Sometimes, when we're distracted in any yoga asana, we turn to little habits and mannerisms that won't necessarily come off as fidgeting. These little traditions might be subconscious. Next time you're in savasana, try to admit these patterns to yourself if they exist and check your frame of mind when they occur. If you feel distracted, try to bring your focus back to your breath.

6) Acknowledge that savasana is literally only a few minutes of your time: I find it very interesting (and sad) that savasana in traditional Eastern yoga is anywhere from 20-30 minutes. Here in our hustle-bustle Western world, it's usually only held for 2-5 minutes. I understand that it's a challenge to surrender the mind and savasana will always be a work in progress, but if you really feel like savasana is taking forever, just remind yourself why you're there and recognize your need for those few minutes.

Savasana should be a time of bliss for your mind and body. Savor it. If you already embrace savasana, there is always room to improve by lengthening the duration or trying a simple guided meditation. (If you have a smart phone, there are even all sorts of free meditation apps you can download to practice.) If it's not always relaxing, that's okay, but please don't throw in the towel (or the mat, for that matter). Just like the physical yoga postures, with time and diligence, savasana will begin to feel more natural. You'll be able to take the peace and emotional control you cultivate during your practice and carry it throughout your daily life. The world could use more peace and emotional control! Namaste :)