"Just wanted to send a note thanking you for the wonderful classes ... The asanas were different than what I am used to, but I embraced the challenge. Thank you for your wonderful instruction."

Maria Enrique, Antioch, CA


 
Testimonials

"I appreciate Colleen’s patience, her seemingly endless patience adapting poses when I hurt or had injuries so I could learn what it felt like to feel strength in my body even though I was hurting!  Many, many times I’d enter class sick or down and by the end of the class I was not only well, I was 10 years younger and 2 inches taller! I have healed many injuries and ailments by learning to listen to that part of my body...  I am now not afraid to move."

-- Grace Kirby, Dallas, TX

 

 

 

" My healing path with Forrest Yoga taught by Colleen Millen  has been a deep journey inside from where she inspires and guides me to bring out precious treasures that is exhilarating about myself.  Colleen brings so much integrity that you just grow your confidence and go forward fearless of the next step."

-- Claudia Guedes, San Francisco

Healing Stories

The following story was inspired by my healing journey. My intention with Healing Stories is to eventually evolve it into a blog. For now, I will offer you a story from my healing journey and I invite you to email me your feelings and thoughts about it at contact@bluebuddhayoga.com. I will post a new story when my journey inspires me to write!

 

Journey to the Heart
By Colleen Millen


"So loving yourself involves the discovery of the true wonder of you; not only the present you, but the many possibilities of you. It involves the continual realization that you are unique, like no other person in the world, that life is, or should be, the discovery, the development and the sharing of this uniqueness." - Leo Buscaglia, "Love, What Life is All About."

My experience of healing with yoga has been a journey to the heart.

I've been assisted on this journey by many teachers and many types of yoga, however it's been Ana Forrest and Forrest Yoga that inspired me to break free from being "walking dead" to a more vital and contented way of living. For me, Forrest Yoga encapsulates what we all must find our yoga mat: "Evolve or Die." One of my students recently referred to Forrest Yoga as "the yoga of possibilities." That makes me smile.

The yoga mat has been a remarkable place of discovery working with depression. I've spent many yoga sessions working with and coming to peace with my experience of it. I've spent many yoga sessions with clients helping them understand their own expression of depression. I teach them yoga tools so they are empowered to stop "breaking their own heart" (Swami Kripaluvanandji) and increase their prana - that sparkly energy we all deserve to have thriving in us. I often laugh about this - I'm so excited to work with depression! I'm so excited when students feel empowered to participate more in their own healing and use what they've learned on the mat to shine. That process is not mine, but it's such a treat to be a witness to!

Though this work with depression, I believe many of us live our lives from incorrect knowledge, avidya, because we haven't been taught that self truth is the key to personal freedom, peace and love. We haven't been taught that these qualities can, in fact, inspire a more cohesive global community. In Forrest Yoga, we call this process of taking responsibility for self healing on the mat and taking it out into the world "Mending the Hoop of the People." A particular tool of yoga I use when teaching Forrest style is compassionately guiding student to become aware of the "gunk" that's blocking their ability to be completely bright. I offer them different choices of thought, behavior, breath, attitude, alignment so students begin experimenting with their experience. We are good at carrying gunk! It's time to become experts in hunting truth!

We have an incredible opportunity in America to choose to align ourselves with our hearts and accept all the aspects of who we are. Only the walls we build ourselves can hold us back from being truly alive, truly illuminated. Through yoga we can find the Breath, Integrity, Strength, Spirit (pillars of Forrest Yoga) to, as Ana says, "Walk as our Spirit dictates." Through yoga we can find our truth and make choices that are congruent with that truth. Isn't that amazing?

Recently, I had an opportunity to appreciate the value of yoga in my life. I had a chaotic week, playing so many different roles and feeling so many things. When the busyness lifted I got on my mat, navigated my practice with alertness, comfort and breath. I practiced other healing modalities. At a certain point on my "processing" day, I found the words that summarized my week. I found the truth: I am many things all at once and all these facets of my character are a gift, a door to learning. This epiphany came after crafting the poem below. This personal treasure produced from my chaos I offer to you. I hope this poem inspires you to look at all the aspects of who you are with love and compassion. I hope it inspires you take responsibility for what you need to Mend so you start inspiring your Hoops of People with your light. Get on your yoga mat and play with that journey to your heart! It's so worthwhile!

Hummingbird
December 2008

I am the whisper of breath and the spaces in between.
I am a drum beating heart that melts with the racing stream.
I am the eagle who brings sight and raindrop tears.
I am the bear mother whose caring is fierce.
I am the wailing winds that rattle windows at night.
I am a ferocious wolf that sees through red hot eyes.
I am the feel of soft feathers caressing skin.
I am the hummingbird who hovers above and within.


Colleen Millen is a Forrest Yoga Mentor Teacher and Forrest Yoga Mentorship Program Liaison. She can be reached at www.bluebuddhayoga.com and  contact@bluebuddhayoga.com. Colleen teaches in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Copyright 2008 © Blue Buddha Yoga. All rights reserved

Contact Colleen
Colleen Millen
Blue Buddha Yoga
925-487-4592
contact@bluebuddhayoga.com