Gianna Carotenuto

...is so present. Is so freaking present.

It's profound how presence can have a gravitational pull on those around you. As a student, she had my full, complete attention all throughout class.

So, this is Forrest. I've taken one class before, but really I am quite clueless to the movement, only aware that the practice is there to create space for transformational growth. I admire the way that Ana took her personal struggles, particularly bulimia, and used those experiences to create healing practices worldwide.

Gianna is a dedicated Forrest teacher, and really warmed me up to the practice. The sequencing was fantastic, we started with grounding, then hip opening, then heating, heart-opening and cooling, third-eye opening. I experienced ego-loss several times in the practice, particularly with camel at the end, and with the wide-leg forward folds.

Gianna had us discover the space between our thigh bone and our hip socket, and I had never, ever, thought of that space past pure metaphor before. It's amazing what a powerhouse that is. As yoga is an opening up of energy channels, I also think that observing the next hours after a yoga class and noticing what shows up, is a key to the space you transported yourself to within the class. To rephrase, it's one thing to hear a teacher say that opening up a certain space bringing in creativity. It's another thing to find yourself in Venice with a dead cell phone and the most confusing bus directions ever; then find yourself hitchhiking safely to Redondo Beach and meeting some people with apartment leads in the mean time (sorry, mom! hope you don't read this : ).

In summary:

-space between the hip socket and the thigh: huge energy center
-incredible, incredible, incredible adjustments. would love to learn how to do this!
-letting go of the head in a handstand, dramatically different experience (note: harder).
-wide-legged forward fold against a wall: new favorite thing.