Bala’s thoughts on Yoga and Shiatsu
Hi, I’m Bala, The Skyspirit. The Sandskrit name “Bala” was given to me when I graduated from Integral Yoga Institute in June of 2001. It means “The Childlike.” I do try to maintain the qualities of a child as I go through this life. Living as fully as possible is one of the most important things I can think of doing. Keeping life light and simple as children do so beautifully is a wonderful approach to living life fully.
It takes a lot of gentle effort to free oneself, even if just for a few blissful moments, of the burden of time, responsibility, and the day-to-day duties that make adults adults. Taking the time to play with a dog, give a Shiatsu session, smell a flower, ride a horse, jump out of a plane, walk aimlessly about, and practice or teach Yoga, are a few things I find myself doing to keep the open channel to “The Bala” that I am. I am not suggesting that we escape the adult life, but that we provide ourselves with the opportunity to enjoy and explore the child and peacefulness within while enjoying the challenge of careers, homes, family, relationships and other adult adventures. We are human after all, and humans work, have families, and do all kinds of wonderful things.
I’ve been practicing Yoga for many years and started teaching over six years ago after being certified at the Integral Yoga Institute in Manhattan. Currently, I teach at Vassar College in the Drama Department and the Fitness Center. During the summer, I teach at Skydive the Ranch in Gardiner, NY. I have taught at New York University, Bend Don’t Break Yoga in Walden, NY, Integral Yoga Institute, and at Skydive City in Zephyrhills, Florida.
To me, Yoga can be a way of preventing ailments; I call it my “medicine.” I find if a few days go by, and I haven’t practiced, I feel the aches and pangs of daily life creep up on me. If I get a headache, I don’t go running to the pain reliever bottle; I go and gently do my practice. Most of the time it helps to alleviate the pain that was probably stress related to begin with. It is truly wonderful to release, relax, and play, striving to gently push the limits of what my body can do. It helps in all aspects of my life: aiding to quiet useless, negative thoughts; clears the mind for better mental focus; stretches and strengthens the body; and helps to create balance and grace. I cannot rave enough about the joys and benefits one can discover by developing one’s Yoga practice.
I studied Shiatsu with the Motherhand Society in Manhattan. This nurturing approach was developed by Maryann Fuenmayor, my Shiatsu instructor and mentor. It has been wonderful to practice this form since I graduated in October of 2003. It is not through advertising and publicity that I have this opportunity, but by word of mouth. I work on friends and family. It has been tremendously rewarding to be able to practice as much as I have since I graduated.
Having the opportunity to give someone a Shiatsu session is a gift. I know that this person is coming to me with trust, seeking to feel better, to relax, to let go. It is a partnership, an agreement, that we enter into to help each other. In addition to assisting the receiver’s body to move healing energy, mine is affected as well, guiding us both to a more easeful, healthful body and clear-headed existence.
Why “Sky Spirit” or “Skyspirit?” While in training for Shiatsu, I went on my first Skydive. It was a life changing experience, which confirmed my beliefs and my trainings. I was responsible for ME. I also gave up my existance in NYC shortly after finishing Shiatsu school and moved my life to a Skydiving Center. I lived and breathed skydiving while putting my Yoga and Shiatsu into practice and mostly worked on and with Skydivers. Hence the name ‘Sky Spirit’ for my work and ‘Skyspirit’ for me.
I look forward to expanding my practice and exploring other ways of creating peace within myself and assisting others to do the same. I am looking into further trainings such as Tai Yoga Massage, Reiki, and more advanced Yoga training.
