First of all, credit to Christina Sell for this title (and my new mantra for 2023).

As many of you know, I attended a 3-day workshop in Bellingham, WA, two weekends ago. First question I hear about the workshop is “why Bellingham?” - I’m thinking people expect workshops to be in exotic places (think Bali, Costa Rica, etc.). So, to answer that query, the workshop was in Bellingham since it is the home of one of the co-presenters, Christina Sell. The second co-presenter was Desiree Rumbaugh, who lives in San Miguel de Allende.

That answers that question.

Now, about the workshop and the title: I attended with a long-time friend, Jen. (Jen was the first yoga teacher I hired at the studio I owned in Salt Lake.) She and I re-connected after many years and it was as though we’d never been apart, except that we both had SO much to share about the 12 years of life happenings between Salt Lake and now.

We both arrived on the same flight and shared space at a nice little hotel in downtown Bellingham; walking distance from several good restaurants and the yoga studio.

Day 1 - Saturday, we spent the morning exploring a great Farmers Market, enjoyed a very good breakfast, then headed to the Co-op for some groceries. Our workshop was to begin at 12:30, so back to the hotel to unload and get ready. A quick walk to the studio, where we enjoyed a fun meeting up with people we’d met over the years, including Christina and Desiree. After 2.5 hours with Christina teaching this first session, we walked back to the hotel feeling exhausted - interesting that we didn’t work to exhaustion, but the mental (the subtle) was most tiring. After a light lunch, it was back to the studio for part two - 2.5 hours with Desiree and more subtle work.

Day 2 - Sunday, was a pretty similar schedule — morning to ourselves, then to the studio. Desiree began the day and 2.5 hours later, we were whipped, especially mentally. A shorter break on this day, then back at it with Christina. Again, more subtle work - preparing us for the final day. My gut told me that day 3 would include backbends and inversions / arm balances.

Day 3 - Monday, began earlier (9am) with Christina leading the morning session. I swear we spent 2 hours prepping for backbends (in particular Urdhva Dhanurasana (UD) - wheel pose). The final pose before settling down, was UD. This pose has always been a to-be-accomplished one for me. 5 years ago, I almost was there (off the ground, but not very pretty), then backed off the work and am back to square one. However, after the work during this workshop, I feel it is still on the ‘bucket list’ and now I have some ideas on how to get there. The unfortunate part of Monday was that I had a plane to catch, so I missed Desiree’s last offering (handstands / arm balances).

I see now that they had a plan - work us (brains and body) the first two days, then do the big ‘ask’ on day 3.

So, why “subtle is the new advanced”? Christina said something similar to this at the end of her Day 3 Session. It resonates with me and the way I am teaching these days. And, it seems the students who come to my classes are ready to do subtle work (which may lead to ‘big’ poses, eventually; more importantly, tho, it is creating awareness). Our practice is not just ‘inhale, raise your arms; exhale, lower your arms’. it’s so much more — imagine your stance (the strength in your legs and torso); envision the upper back aiding in the lift and lowering of the arms, as you hollow your armpits and move the arms closer to (or behind) your ears; extend up with purpose (and straight elbows). Subtle work.

Interesting that, while my body and brain were tired, I did not have sore muscles. Not because I wasn’t working hard enough, but because these teachers had us moving smartly, with wisdom.

What a great workshop! If you read all this, thank you! My wish for you is to have a similar experience one day.

Take care, Leslie

p.s. I was the 3rd oldest practitioner in the room. The comment was made by a younger attendee that she was impressed/inspired by the elders in the room. Thank you to all my teachers who said ‘don’t let age hold you back’.