Yoga With Tracy Von Kaenel - 2012

Yoga With Tracy Von Kaenel

2012 was a year of growth, both spiritually and in the amount of bodies with a desire to add yoga to their lives. The class sizes grew to a healthy number, a pure indication that something good is going on at the Tai Chi Center of Chicago. There were more requests for private yoga lessons and Yogassages as people once again acknowledged the importance of taking care of one’s self. And the Aerial yoga program has been steadily expanding, introducing dozens of new and experienced yogis to this unique form of the practice.

A group of yoga instructors from Iowa made the trip to Chicago to experience Aerial Yoga from Tracy Von Kaenel and are now offering it to their students in the Quad Cities. In fact folks from all around have come to study Aerial Yoga, including The Suburban Yoga Network Connection (SYNC) who brought their group to the city for a workshop. The 7 teachers enjoyed the workshop and then shared their enthusiasm with Yoga Chicago magazine. I was also blessed with enthusiastic instructors traveling to Chicago to learn the Aerial techniques from as far away as California and even Brazil. I even got Elizabeth (yes THAT Elizabeth!) to tip upside down on the sling a few times….wee!

The yoga classes enjoyed some specialty classes again this summer including a Chakra balancing class, Zen Practice, Cardio Yoga, and a lovely outdoor class in a beautiful hidden garden in the neighborhood. I continue to be impressed by the level of dedication from this enlightened group. Their spirits and energy continue to bring joy to the practice, in the studio or in the garden.

One of my personal favorite highlights of the year was in September. Yoga with Tracy Von Kaenel hosted a Yoga Retreat inviting those who’ve consistently studied with me the longest to a beautiful lakefront home in Kenosha for a full weekend of yoga philosophy, asana class, healing circles, delicious vegetarian food, like-minded community and lots of fun. It was a great experience and everyone returned with a new sense of centeredness and peacefulness, which they continue to share with everyone back home.

Our participation in the Ravenswood Art Walk this year included 13 yogis and yoginis participating in a choreographed piece that weaved together a flowing yoga practice, aerial yoga, aerial dance, and a community chant of Om Mani Padme Hum. It was very well attended and very well received. Thanks to all the dedicated yogis and yoginis for their hard work, and to our guest dancer Danielle…. all of them are amazing.

The only thing missing this year was even more yogis. Many of the regulars have had to stop coming due to circumstances in their lives. There’s not a class I teach that I don’t think of them and miss them. Every student who’s ever come through the doors of TCC is incredibly special to me, and such an important part of my life. My continued Samkalpa is for those students to find a way to get back into a yoga practice (whether it’s with me or not). I know how important the practice is to a harmonious life and I would love everyone to experience that.

I look forward to 2013 with open arms. There are some great new things on the horizon. The Aerial classes will be moving to a new time, Mondays 6-7p.m and we’ll be starting a new Zen Yoga class on Mondays from 7:30-8:30 pm. I’m excited about the Aerial move, as it will allow this energetic practice to be practiced at an earlier time of the day and also excited to close the day with a soothing and rejuvenating Zen practice. I bid a fond farewell to a very good year, and a hearty welcome to the next, which will be even better. Namaste.

Namaste,
Tracy

Tracy Von Kaenel - 2011

Yoga With Tracy Von Kaenel

What a year the yoga students and I have had. 2011 brought the birth of Aerial Yoga. It all began with a glimmer in the eyes of Lisa Hish, Elizabeth and myself. The possibility of a brand new bouncing sling hanging from the beam. Perhaps even 5 of them! It started with one and few private and duet lessons. Interest grew slowly in the beginning, but before long there was a flush of it. Soon there were five beautiful shiny black slings hanging from the beam and eager students to fill them. In fact at the time of this writing the classes are booked through February of next year. WooHoo! The new Aerial Yoga students and I have learned so much about this different and wonderful form of Yoga. Things like, it’s probably best not to hang upside down and spin if you are pregnant. Things like, not everyone is ok with not touching the floor. But also things like feeling a release in your back that no other form of physicality can bring. The sense of pure joy as the sling gently supports you in a weightless handstand. And the sensation of being cradled into a deep and soothing Savasana like no other. If you haven’t tried Aerial Yoga, you should….no, it’s not for everyone, but it is truly something unique and wonderful for most.

The Yoga program participated again this year in the Ravenswood Art Walk. We performed an Aerial Yoga Demo, a Flow Yoga Demo, and I followed up with an Aerial Yoga Dance. The whole group and the audience then joined in for a lovely and spirit rising session of Om Mani Padme Hum chanting. It was beautiful.

2011 brought some wonderful, new, committed faces to the studio as well, and the classes continue to grow in both size and generousness of spirit. Each person that comes to the Yoga classes at TCC is meant to be there…. every one of them a lovely soul.

This was also a year of great challenge for many of us. Two of our regular yogis miraculously lived through a harrowing experience at the hands of an angry lake Michigan. A couple more yogis lost their jobs after years of dedicated service. Several folks lost loved ones or made hard transitions in their lives. And yet the one thing we all had to be grateful for is the strength of our character and our Yoga practice; the chance to come to a beautiful peaceful place to re-connect with our spirits despite the outside world. What a beautiful blessing that is indeed.
As I look forward to 2012, I pray to stay connected to all the wonderful yogis and yogins I am so blessed to instruct for so many years, and I welcome even more new faces. I know it is going to be a great year.

Namaste,

Tracy

Tracy Von Kaenel - Newsletter 2010

2010 has been a year of change. As with all times of change some is uplifting, some is challenging. Several of the regular yogis in the program had lifestyle changes that moved them to different states…I miss them. Many yogis lost their jobs along with thousands of other Americans…I grieve with them. There were a couple yogis that went through the pain of divorce… I sympathize with them. Many yogis (including myself) dealt with debilitating injuries or physical setbacks…I empathize with them.

But the one thing that held us all together through it all was the yoga. The pure essence of the teachings of peace and stillness. The reminder that when we come to the mat we are coming home to that peacefulness, no matter what craziness surrounds us in our outside world. And, that coming to the mat also helps us to find the positives of life. To reaffirm our resolve. In fact this year also proved to be quite positive with two yogis finding the joy of a new marriage. And we welcomed a brand spanking new little yogini into the world. Also, one of our yoginis got to try out her teaching skills for the first time on the wonderful students at the TCC, to rave reviews. Beautiful blessings all of them.

So as it was in the entire universe, the yoga program felt the flux of a challenging year. And we recognized the blessing of having this comforting, supportive, enriching place and practice to come to. Having the gift of a yoga practice helped us through the tough times and deepened our joy in the happy times. How lucky we all are to have this practice and this beautiful space of serenity to practice in.

Namaste. Tracy Von Kaenel

Tracy Von Kaenel - Newsletter 2009

TRACY VON KAENEL
Yoga With Tracy Von Kaenel

What a wonderful year of yoga we have had at the Tai Chi Center of Chicago. This year felt as if we really inhabited the space with full energy and vibration. There were some new and wonderful happenings in the Yoga program. Some of the highlights include:

1) The New Year brought several new students, each one wowed by the beauty of the space and the positive teachings going on there.

2) The summer schedule expanded to include many specialty classes which students enjoyed greatly. Some of those included Sensory Practice (blindfolded), Gong Bath (a vibrational shift of awareness), Exploring the Chakras (an introduction to the role the energy centers of the body play), and Inversion Focus (looking at the world upside down), Partner Yoga (so much fun to share) plus many, many more. All the students who sampled these classes came away with fresh perspectives and a renewed sense of openness about their practice.

3) This year we had our first Yoga Dance/Yoga Discussion/Yoga Potluck. We sweated through a free form style of yoga and dance that loosened up our bodies and minds, then calmed down with a philosophical discussion about yoga, and finished with a scrumptious vegetarian pot luck dinner. It was a wonderful evening.

4) New on the schedule this year was Private Yoga Lessons... including Yogassage (a soothing, therapeutic form of passive stretching) Several students took advantage of these valuable one on one lessons.

5) At this years Ravenswood Arts Walk, myself and the yoga students put on an impressive yoga demo that really inspired the viewing public. Everyone did such a wonderful job and had a great time.

The progress of the dedicated students has been amazing. I have seen so much more connection to the physical body and a deeper awareness of spirit. In some way, every student has made significant strides in their practice.

Looking to the future I hope to continue to bring the joy of Yoga to even more students, and further the depth of those continuing their path. We will once again have thought provoking, challenging and fun specialty classes in the summer, and another Yoga Dance Party. Also on the queue for next year is the making of a Yoga DVD, which I hope some of my students will participate in. I look forward to a great year of Yoga in 2010.

Namaste,
Tracy Von Kaenel

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