When the student is ready...

I've been spending a considerable amount of time alone this week. After a wonderful opening at the Ojai Yoga Crib last weekend, I felt an intense desire to process, sit, go to bed early, hold deep hip openers/reclined twists, listen to Nina Simone, and eat large amounts of candy corn. Not always in that order..

I strongly believe in the truth behind the yogic expression, "when the student is ready the teacher will come." Two years ago, after months of researching teacher trainings in Costa Rica, San Francisco, Massachusetts, and beyond, I encountered my teacher Saul David Raye for the first time at the 2007 Ojai Yoga Crib. The click was instant, like a plug entering a socket. This is my teacher, this is who I'll train with, no need to think about anything else. I devoured everything Saul offered me that year. It was my yogic prescription; my livelihood.

After a year of teaching yoga and pursuing the path I love in the deepest way I've learned to love, I returned to Ojai for the Crib. Not searching this time. Just arriving in a bright, colorful bouquet of my closest friends and teachers. My schedule was thoughtfully weaved with an assortment of sweet, nurturing, contemplative classes. I was guided into a familiar state of bliss and love on Friday and Saturday with my beloved cast of "regulars": Kira Ryder, Sean Johnson, Saul David Raye, and Erich Schiffmann. I attended every class without hesitation, because it was all known, proven, Debbie tested, recommended, and loved!

Sunday morning was slightly more challenging. Even though I had selected Patricia Sullivan in my top five teacher choices, I was irrationally fearful when it was time to take her class. It was new, therefore unknown and scary. It also wasn't Saul's class in LA with Steve and Anne-Emilie Gold playing live, hence my mind convinced me I was missing out. I deliberately managed to shut down my spinning thoughts and explain to myself that this is what I do, this is my samskara (pattern or imprint). Example: I almost didn't make it to teacher training because I was worried we wouldn't practice enough yoga during the week. When I finally decided to attend the training, I drove in circles around Exhale Venice as I was terrified of going in and actually beginning. When Bill Wyland offered me my first class at Bernal Yoga, I panicked and went to Harmony Festival instead. Sometimes, I run and hide from the situations that often serve me in the deepest and most fulfilling ways.

Patricia's yoga class ended up being a delightful, heart held miracle. I say heart held because I've been holding it deep in my heart for days. I was instantly inspired by Patricia's gentle attention to detail, her supportive touch, and her encouraging energy. But, most of all it was her love. Her passionate, tender, expressive love for the practice, the teachings, the students, her job, her life. Her love was infectious and sincere. I couldn't help but relate.

On Thursday night, I braved the BART train in the midst of the Bay Bridge shut down to take Patricia's class in Berkeley. The room had an October chill in the air different from the sunshine and butterflies in Ojai, but the practice and the energy remained the same. Love, stillness, nourishment, depth. As we sat together in our final meditation, everything was quiet. My mind, the room, and Patricia's voice had all faded away.

my website is up!!!

www.debbiedancer.com

thanks to the fabulous jane lee for her design skills and patience with my desire for hot pink!

in great joy and peace,
debbie

Upcoming Teaching and Events!

Darlings!  

My website www.debbiedancer.com will be launched soon :)  In the meantime, keep checking here for updated workshop/event/teaching info.  

Throw Down Your Heart: An Evening of Devotional Chanting and Holistic Yoga

w/ Daniel Tucker on Harmonium and Joss Jaffe on Tabla

Bernal Yoga SF

Saturday May 16th

7-10pm

www.bernalyoga.com

Afro Flow Yoga Workshop @ the Green Yoga Conference

Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CA

May 30th-31st

www.greenyoga.org

Afro Flow Yoga/Ecstatic West African Dance Weekend!

Wild Lotus Yoga Center

New Orleans, LA

August 1st-2nd

www.wildlotusyoga.com

Ongoing classes @ Bernal Yoga, Satori Yoga, and International Orange SF.  Check websites for weekly class schedules:

www.bernalyoga.com

www.satoriyogastudio.com

www.internationalorange.com

INJOY!

debbie dancer

Upcoming teaching, events, and workshops!! :)

As Kate Hudson's character in Almost Famous proclaims, "It's ALL happening!"  That's EXACTLY how I've been feeling these last few months.  After months of praying, meditating, chanting, and longing for change, I've arrived on a path that feels like all my dreams :)  In the midst of our countries collective surge of HOPE and passionate desire for a new way of living, I move forward into my true "svadharma" or purpose to spread JOY, peace, and love to all beings.  I'm endlessly grateful for my teachers who have helped me pave my yellow (and pink) brick road.  

In the next few months I will have my own website up, in the meantime please check here for upcoming classes, workshops, events, and performances.  I will also try to post my yoga class sequences as often as possible :)  I hope to move, breath, sing, and dance with you soon!  IN-JOY!

ONGOING:

Fridays 7-8:15am, Flow 1-3 class

Bernal Yoga SF

www.bernalyoga.com

Fridays in February 12-1:30pm, Flow with Core Awareness

covering for Tania

Bernal Yoga SF

www.bernalyoga.com

SPECIAL WORKSHOPS!

AFRO FLOW YOGA WORKSHOP

an exploration of SELF through traditional West African Dance and Ha-Tha Yoga

with LIVE West African Music from Rhythm Village

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15TH 

www.bernalyoga.com

www.rhythmvillage.net

AFRO FLOW YOGA WORKSHOP AND PERFORMANCE

with RHYTHM VILLAGE

SATURDAY MARCH 28TH

UBUNTU RESTAURANT AND YOGA STUDIO

www.ubuntunapa.com

PERFORMANCES:

Benefit for Abdoulaye Diakite with Antioquia, Leon Mobley and Da Lion, DRUMMM, and LIVE West African Drum and Dance

Friday February 20th

ASHKENAZ BERKELEY

www.abdoulayeupdate.com

An evening of West African Music and Dance with RHYTHM VILLAGE 

Friday March 27th

Throckmorton Theatre Mill Valley, CA

www.142throckmortontheatre.com

The de Young museum goes BRIGHT green with COMMON GROUND MAGAZINE

Earth Day celebration with DRUMMM and RHYTHM VILLAGE

Friday night April 10th

www.famsf.org/deyoung

Upcoming African Dance/Yoga workshops in New Orleans this spring :)

all the fabulous people in my life!

in case you were wondering where i've been all summer (or winter as it was in the bay area), i've been entertaining and being entertained by all the fabulous people in my life. dance festivals (boston), camps (fareta), outdoor concerts, yoga classes, pizza parties, picnics, pillow fights, rollar coasters, day trips (santa cruz), family visits (mom), stay-cations, the olympics (gymnastics!!!), ecstatic kirtans (keith! dave stringer!), spontaneous stand up comedy routines (mama SIA AMMA), performances, and the beat goes on.

i'm fascinated, blown away, challenged, and star struck by the people in my vastly intimate group of friends. as the 25th year of my life comes to an end and we move into indian summer, babies are being born, friends are getting married, businesses are launching, dance/yoga festivals are being organized, degree programs are kicking off, plays are being performed, lotus's are blossoming out of the mud, concerts are selling out, and roommates are backpacking through asia. my community of friends and loved ones are the world changers, the dreamers of the dreams, the risk takers, the thrill seekers, the ones making it all happen...and it's all happening NOW.

for my network, 2008 is about going balls out! buying the convertible you always wanted, traveling around the world to dance, quitting your job and starting your own vegan cupcake business, voting for political and personal transformation, not holding anything back, living LARGE in the moment. i can't help but wonder (note the carrie bradshaw reference) where i fit into this pool of innovation and enthusiasm. but, i guarantee my days as a spectator are fading with the seasons.

CELEBRATE INDEPEN-DANCE IN MY COMMUNITY THIS FALL:

Sia Amma presents the SF Cultural Dance and Drum Festival AND the SF African Dance and Drum Festival- http://www.celebrateclitoris.com/

Kira Ryder's collage of yoga wonderfulness- www.ojaiyogacrib.com

Delina Brooks' play, "Beauty, the Beast" at Dance Mission THIS WEEKEND- www.brownpapertickets.com

Joti Singh artist in residence dance performance at Counter Pulse Sept 11-14th- http://www.counterpulse.org/calendar.shtml

Laughing Lotus 1st B-day Party- www.laughinglotus.com

Andrea's NEW vegan cupcake biz- http://comehithercupcakes.com/

Antioquia at the Elbo Room- http://www.myspace.com/antioquiaband

article and video from camp fareta!!!

http://www.fresnobe e.com/263/ story/727866. html

i'm dancing with djeneba again!

summer is the season of indepen-DANCE

http://www.dancingvillage.com/camp_fareta.php

i'll be teaching yoga! bring your mat!