Dear yogis, friends, and family,
I am so happy to be back in touch and share more Yoga offerings and updates. I am also thankful for all the kind messages and support I have received during this time of Covid-19. Fortunately, my family has been well from that standpoint.
I hope you and your families have also been well.
Given immuno-compromised people in my life, I have been striving to be relatively cautious. I have not returned to in-person classes, or Thai bodywork sessions yet. I may consider doing something outdoors at some point.
I have a lot of performance anxiety, and after 13 years of teaching in front of people it is mostly better; however, the idea of teaching in front of a camera was quite triggering and presented as aversion. It has been empowering to play with the discomfort of my fear and aversion. I am expanding my online offerings to include YouTube videos and weekly live Zoom classes.
I am also continuing to offer private personal and group classes online, so please let me know if you would like more information on those.
Weekly Live Yoga Classes on Zoom Starting September 2nd
Testing eka, dwi, tri (1, 2, 3)
Wednesdays 5:20-6:35p EST Alignment-based Yoga + Metta Meditation (starts September 2, 2020)
Mondays 7:20-8:30p EST Yin/Restorative Yoga + Metta Meditation (starts September 7, 2020)
To join the Zoom classes, please complete the following steps at least 2 hours before class start time:
1. Pay what you can ($4-$18) per class via Paypal (paypal.me/vitoyoga) or Venmo @Vito-Politano
2. After paying, contact me at vito.politano@gmail.com with your preferred email address to receive the Zoom link
3. I will send the Zoom link on the day of class (please check spam folder)
Please let me know if you are interested in additional days and times.
For logistics and class details (class format, props, etc.) please see the section below my schedule on vitoyoga.com: https://vitoyoga.com/schedule/
I may initially be practicing along with these forthcoming group classes. As my skills grow navigating the format and multiple windows, it is my aim to be more interactive with cueing.
Metta/lovingkindness meditation
I will aim to use the last 5 minutes of each class to share some metta/lovingkindness meditation practice. This is a practice that serves me continuously on the journey of love, acceptance, and compassion for myself and all beings. I have shared more about my personal experience with this practice in a Spring 2019 post: https://vitoyoga.com/2019/03/23/spring-metta-renew-your-connection-to-self/
Feel free to sit tall on a chair or props, or stay lying down during the metta practice – whatever works best for your knees, hips, back, etc. Follow along repeating silently to yourself or let the practice wash over you.
vitoyoga videos on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSzhG62nmM7vFnAOzLRFW2A
I created a vitoyoga channel and started offering some initial instructional videos of practices I find useful, especially as a tighter yogi. I plan to offer more instructional videos including some metta meditation and longer asana practices.
Please subscribe and like them if they are useful and you want updates. I am hoping to get onto a weekly video schedule. I also post them on Instagram (@vito_politano), Facebook and my website vitoyoga.com.
Currently you can find the following videos: ball rolling of feet, figure four/eye of the needle pigeon alternative, calf stretch series, frog pose, Tadasana/side stretch
La Vita Bella: Yoga in Italia Retreats postponed to Fall 2021
Fortunately, the International Yoga team was able to postpone this year’s retreats to Fall 2021. If you are interested or have questions, please let me know. The new dates and details:
September 25 – October 2, 2021
Some Bhagavad Gita Inspiration
I have been very inspired to get to work and reconnect with group classes. Having only read the Bhagavad Gita piecemeal previously, I have begun rereading it from start to finish and have been giving much thought to my life’s work, purpose, and tough choices. Reading, as well as studying the Bhagavad Gita with Rama Jyoti Vernon online has felt especially meaningful at this time.
I have recently shared the following verses on IG and FB:
2.40
On this path no effort is wasted
no gain is ever reversed;
even a little of this practice
will shelter you from great sorrow.
2.47
You have a right to your actions,
but never to your actions’ fruits.
Act for the action’s sake.
And do not be attached to inaction.
2.48
Self-possessed, resolute, act
without any thought of results,
open to success or failure.
This equanimity is yoga.
2.50
The wise man lets go of all
results, whether good or bad,
and is focused on the action alone.
Yoga is skill in actions.
Excerpted from The Bhagavad Gita, a New Translation by Stephen Mitchell
May you be filled with peace.
Much appreciated,
Vito