Yoga in Roma

Last night I went to my first Italian yoga class in Rome. Sam had found a studio that was a bit of a walk, but she'd been to a couple classes and said that they were amazing, so I decided to try it out. I was really excited to be IN a class again. After doing a personal practice for so long I was ready for some guidance, challenge, and inspiration.

I met Sam at Castel Sant'Angelo and we headed to the studio. She had figured out the bus system from Piazza Cavour, so we rode around the city catching up on eachother's week and comparing how our meditation and yoga practices were going Rome. It's so nice to have a yoga friend to exchange yoga experiences with:) We got to the studio a few minutes early and waited for everyone to arrive. Alba, the instructor, arrived a few minutes after us. She is an incredible person, I could tell that I would love her right away! She's an older woman with a great energy. Alba teaches on Tuesdays at JCU (that's how Sam met her), and was so excited to hear that I was the Monday teacher.

picture credit: Jada Zajur :)
Om Namah Shivaya

It was an incredible practice. There were 6 other people besides Sam and me, so Alba taught the entire class in Italian. It was really cool, because even though I couldn't understand what she was saying I sort of KNEW what she was saying. Being Italian, she used her hands so much and got sooo into the explanations that it was easy to pick up on. At the same time, the energy in the room was just so great..the class seemed to come so naturally to me. Alba teaches Anusara Yoga, a school of yoga focused on "celebration of the heart" that looks for the good in all people and all things. So lovely.

A moment I will never forget is at the beginning of the class, we were all sitting with our eyes closed. I didn't know what Alba was saying (because it was all in Italian), but I figured it was something along the lines of focusing on the breath, bringing the attention inward...how classes usually begin. After a few minutes of this, the Italian stopped and we sat in silent meditation. Out of nowhere, I heard a whisper right in front of me, "Feel your breath, go deeper. Find your higher self, connect with it. Open your heart, fill yourself with light, shine out." I felt so alive, so one with myself and the universe, it was magical (Courtney, you might be the only one who gets this:) ). Her focus on each individual was amazing, it made me feel the way you're supposed to feel after yoga - that you're a little bit closer to discovering that divine light inside of you! My lovely yogis and yoginis at home,  I hope you're still finding this in yourselves and in the world every day!