We move without pain.

To start with we want to experience mobility in our joints, the main areas being hips, shoulders, spinal column including neck, torso and lower back as well as wrists, knees, and ankles. In class we pay attention to these areas, finding ways to mobilize joints that may have become stiff, stuck, immobile, or otherwise unused. We warm up these areas gently and spontaneously, getting in touch with our bodies and remembering to breathe. It feels good to get in touch with these basic movements.

Second, we use the power of gravity to help us to lengthen our spines , also lengthening and strengthening connective tissue, including, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Sitting, kneeling, lying or standing, we find ways to align our skeleton so that we simultaneously feel rooted to the earth and yet feel light, long, strong, and lifting. We take this body knowledge into our daily lives, working, walking, driving etc. with this awareness.

Third, we use the power of the breath along with various poses to open, lengthen and strengthen the core of our bodies so that standing, sitting, lying down, or exercising our posture is open, relaxed, supported and properly aligned. We take this body knowledge with us into our daily lives.

Note: Any movement, exercise, or pose that seems as if it is compressing the spine rather than lengthening and strengthening it is to be avoided. Pain of any kind is to be avoided. Straining of any kind is to be avoided. These activities should be approached from a feeling of relaxation, acceptance, and love.

We experience the energy nature of our bodies. As we progress in the practice of movement, poses, alignment, and breathing we begin to experience the free flow of energy inside our body. Our senses awaken both outward and inward. We learn to combine various aspects of practice to optimize the free and balanced flow of energy through our mind and body.

We realize and experience our essential wholeness and connectedness.

We learn about and experience the different energy centers in our "energy body" and enjoy the benefits of activating and energizing these centers, such as the "heart center" through which we may experience the feeling of "unconditional love" and become aware of our deep connection to all living beings and the earth itself. We realize that body, mind and spirit are not as distinct as we once assumed and we become whole and integrated through our awareness.

We choose to serve.

Once we realize that we are all made of the same stuff it becomes obvious that our best choices are the ones that serve all of us, men, women, children, animals, plants and the earth itself. Anything less and we rob ourselves of a wonderful opportunity to create a bright and beautiful world. We are all connected. Everything and everyone counts. What we do matters, so we aspire, inspire, and learn to make good choices that benefit us all.

Namaste.

Lloyd J. Goldstein