Meet Maureen Vasquez
How long have you been practicing yoga and what inspired you
to take it?
I was introduced to yoga at a health club about eight years ago. After my second son was born, I was interested in easing back in to an exercise program to get back in shape. Rather than returning to the gym or an aerobics class, I decided to sign up for a session of yoga at Sun & Moon. I found the quiet, focused atmosphere of yoga class to be very relaxing and peaceful quite the opposite of my harried existence with two small children.
When I periodically missed class, I noticed the difference in my personality. I lacked the patience, emotional balance and physical benefits provided by the practice. When JJ began the Sun & Moon Teacher Training program, I decided to deepen my education in yoga. I have been pursuing it ever since.
You have three children. How has yoga helped you cope with the busyness of motherhood?
As a parent, it is important to understand that no matter how overwhelmed you are, you still have to respond to your children's needs. It's also important to find the time to meet your own needs, while meeting the needs of your family.
Certainly the physical practice helps to release stress and make me feel more relaxed and emotionally well balanced. Whenever I feel the need to relax or be more patient, I immediately focus on my breathing. For me it's not only about asanas, my yoga practice has become much more personal, involving my habits, thoughts and actions. It has helped me to cope with the busy-ness of motherhood by offering me a way to live a more balanced or "yogic" life.
Yoga encourages me to take a different perspective on things. The asanas and the way we practice them are allegorical to the approach we take to life. For example, you may focus on surrendering into a pose like Supta Baddha Konasana (supported bound angle). The same could be said of situations that present themselves to us in our daily lives. When do we acknowledge that we do not have control of a situation? In my own experience, circumstances arise, (maybe one of my children gets sick), and these circumstances force me to drop all preconceived notions about the way in which I had intended to conduct my business. I may not like it, but the circumstances themselves force me to surrender to the flow of things. I then take the approach that this is where my destiny requires me to be.
Sometimes in yoga class we are asked to try something new. Perhaps it is a bit scary or uncomfortable. As a student, you are expected to "listen to your body" and make a determination as to whether or not you are going too far. The teacher may tell you, "You want to experience effort, not pain." The process of discerning this difference can also be applied to the way we live our hectic lives.
In this area, people really push their kids. Some of the children I know have busier schedules than many adults. It's easy to feel you have to go along with the crowd. Of course everyone wants the best for their children; but sometimes, this requires me to step back and approach the situation from a different perspective. Each child is an individual with different needs. I no longer try to meet the expectations imposed upon me by someone else. I use the same discernment in these situations as needed in yoga class to determine whether or not to move further into a pose.
My husband is very supportive. He doesn't "do" yoga; but, he has a great big heart and a yogic spirit. Whenever I begin to lose my way and become too practical or results-oriented, he usually encourages me to follow the path of the heart. In parenting, we aren't provided with an instruction booklet. If we try our best and follow this same path, I am hoping the results can only be favorable.
What is one of the greatest joys teaching yoga gives you?
Although I have been studying yoga for quite a few years, I realize I am only scratching the surface. There is so much more to learn about so many more paths to explore. Asanas, bandhas, mudras, chakras --there always seems to be something around the bend. I think I have a short attention span. So whether it's discovering a nuance in my own practice, or reading an article about something of which I know very little, the greatest joy I derive from yoga is being constantly surprised at how much more there is yet to discover and experiment with. The best thing about teaching yoga is that I get to share all of this stuff!
What yoga pose(s) do you enjoy in your personal practice and why?
Lately, my favorite pose has been Viparita Karani (legs up the wall). Whether I spend a few minutes in this pose alone, or use it as a springboard into a full-blown asana practice, I always reap some recognizable benefits from this pose.
I'm on my feet a lot during the day. Legs-up-the-wall for fifteen minutes refreshes the body, mind and soul. It does wonders for the feet and legs. During the first few minutes, I allow my lower back to relax against the floor or bolster. I feel the heaviness of my legs sinking deep into my hip sockets. I slow my wandering mind and bring my attention to my breath. I almost always start with belly breathing and move into the complete breath or back body breathing. By the time my fifteen minutes are up, I am transformed! I almost never want to come out of this pose; but, when I do, I feel refreshed, invigorated and relaxed.
What book have you read recently that you would recommend and why?
I have a tendency to begin a lot of books; but I don't always finish them. For this reason, one book I might recommend is Living Your Yoga by Judith Lasater. I like it because you can read it in snippets, picking it up from time to time. The subtitle is "Finding the Spiritual in Everyday Life" and it fits in well with my personal situation. It involves finding the meaning of yoga in all of the little things you do, and in the circumstances that surround you on a daily basis.
I also love to watch movies. Two of my favorite "yogic" movies are The Legend of Baggar Vance and Uncorked. I'm sure there are many, many more, but that's all I can think of right now.