One LONG ladies holiday for me. I have to confess, I found it better on many of the days over the last week to not practice at all. This particular cycle was VERY rough, I worked a fifty-five hour week and was exhausted and in pain much of the time. My yoga was sleeping as much as possible, (please don't think this is a cop out, most of the time I am annoyed that my practice has to stop, but this time it NEEDED to). There were three days I did practice, however. I did a short yin practice one night, a longer restorative practice one day, and then the practice I would like to talk about was REALLY fun for me. It was on Sunday. One of the newer yogis in our studio, Tara, was dealing with the same issue I was and I was mentioning to her how I wanted to practice, but wasn't going to due to my predicament. She was curious, so I explained to her about energy flows and abstaining from over stressing the body or inversions. I told her I was going to practice, and I wanted to move, but that I was going to work on designing some sun salutations without the forward folds and down dogs. I invited her to join me, if she wished and she did. So we started off with some cool VERY restorative work: viparita karani (legs up the wall) is a particularly strongly recommended pose for those on their periods. We did some supported supta badha konasana with the bolster under the length of the spine, and then worked our way through some slow warming suns sans the inversions. Basically, in involves moving from utkatasana (chair pose) to high plank without the uttanasana (standing forward fold), moving through the vinyasa, and landing in child's pose rather than adho mukha svanasana. It is an unnecessary element, but if you want a little more warming, or just really like jumping around, then go for the jump backs and jumps ups - as long as you stay low. After a few modified A's, we added the virabadrasanas, etc. etc. Then we moved through a relatively brief lunge series, opening up the shoulders with binds, opening up the quads, etc, etc. We concluded with a long beautiful svasana with lots of props.
A couple of thoughts here: I chose, intentionally to avoid poses like twisted chair, or any twisting poses that forced the abdomen into the leg. I don't think there is anything necessarily wrong with doing this, but if you feel bloated, or crampy, as I did, you may find this to be unfavorable. But twisting away from the abdomen, such as putting the body in a lunge with the right leg foward, setting the right hand down on the inside of the bent leg and opening the body to the left side by reaching that left arm up to the ceiling.
Also, in order to honor that downward flow, avoid mula bandha. So, you can do ab work, if you can practice it without engaging mula bandha. If you don't know what I am talking about, there is a good chance you don't engage it anyway, so don't worry about it. =)
So....surrender. That is what the last week has been trying to teach me, I think. It is a strong reminder that women are blessed with that nature is not in our control, that our bodies rule us, no matter what we have the ability to do to it with our diet and exercise and other habits, our bodies get the final say. We can eat whatever we want, knowing we will get fat or thin, run as hard as we want knowing we will sweat and pant, snort coke knowing that we will deteriorate our nasal passages, but we can't choose how long that will take, and we can't make it stop. All we can do is learn our own bodies by listening and experimenting - though not so much with drugs, please. ;) Yoga is many things, and one of those things is the art of developing your ability to hear your wisdom - please notice I did not say develop your own wisdom. Your body already knows what it needs, wants, and doesn't need. In our society we get pulled into the dramas and spectacle of everything around us. We get caught up in the requests and desires of our loved ones, bosses, friends. We get lost in sense desires and grasping and aversion and it takes time and practice and devotion to go deep and listen beyond the chattering monkey mind.
WishinG you happiness and metta from a little dot in the universe called Boston,
Heather
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Rob - Day 36: Mysore
As promised, here for a daily entry! I set a repeating reminder on my To-Do program to make sure that I do this every day so hopefully I'll be much more consistent.
So last night I went to bed early. REALLY early. Like 8:30-9. I wanted to make sure I had enough mojo for the morning practice. It kinda worked I guess. I'm really not sure what's going on with my system right now. Obviously I got enough sleep, but I was still really tired. Probably some of this was left over from my intense led 1/2 Primary class on Monday which I followed with Heather's Yin class. I hadn't done the double header in a while and it was kinda intense. But I was really sore and tired even two days later! Also, the seasons are starting to obviously change now which is always a bit of a shock to my system.
My practice today felt sloppy, unfocused. My hamstrings were really tight and sore. I had trouble keeping focus even for the five breaths per pose. By the end I was quite tired and skipped out past Navasana. I didn't even have enough strength for Urvha Danurasana and ended up doing bridge! I let myself really go in Savasana. I borderline slept, which I guess is what I needed. I followed with a few rounds of Nadi Shodhana which definitely calmed me down a bit.
So what does this tell me..? Well, honestly I'm not quite sure. Maybe it was just an off day. By now (just after noon) I'm feeling a lot better and I'm glad I practiced even if I felt a bit wonky during and just after. I think we'll just let this one go at face value.
So last night I went to bed early. REALLY early. Like 8:30-9. I wanted to make sure I had enough mojo for the morning practice. It kinda worked I guess. I'm really not sure what's going on with my system right now. Obviously I got enough sleep, but I was still really tired. Probably some of this was left over from my intense led 1/2 Primary class on Monday which I followed with Heather's Yin class. I hadn't done the double header in a while and it was kinda intense. But I was really sore and tired even two days later! Also, the seasons are starting to obviously change now which is always a bit of a shock to my system.
My practice today felt sloppy, unfocused. My hamstrings were really tight and sore. I had trouble keeping focus even for the five breaths per pose. By the end I was quite tired and skipped out past Navasana. I didn't even have enough strength for Urvha Danurasana and ended up doing bridge! I let myself really go in Savasana. I borderline slept, which I guess is what I needed. I followed with a few rounds of Nadi Shodhana which definitely calmed me down a bit.
So what does this tell me..? Well, honestly I'm not quite sure. Maybe it was just an off day. By now (just after noon) I'm feeling a lot better and I'm glad I practiced even if I felt a bit wonky during and just after. I think we'll just let this one go at face value.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Rob - Days 33-35: Patterns
I'm beginning to figure out where I tend to fall off the train. This week, and last, I missed practice on Thursday and Friday. See what I've come to realize that while an evening practice is possible, it's tough. I'm best served by making sure that I make it to Mysore in the morning.
Thursday is the toughie. I sign in the Mysore class at the studio and then head straight to work. By the time I come home I'm exhausted and have no strength or motivation to practice. I think I'm going to hold on to Thursday as my optional day of rest. I mean, it's not completely keeping with the original intent of this project. However the MAIN intent of the project was to observe the process of a consistent practice. With that being said I've observed that I really need that day both for the sake of my schedule and my body. But Friday is another matter. If I'm going to take Thursday as rest I'm going to need to be vigilant about making it to Friday Primary class.
So what does this all have to do with patterns? Well, I've realized that my challenges with those days (Friday specifically) have come from my complacency with my diet. Now many would argue that I'm healthy, and sadly by American standards I'm way healthier than the rest. I maintain a Vegan diet and try to avoid processed food, etc. However since this experiment began and my schedule's gotten booked I've really fallen back into some bad habits. This has created a drag on my system which makes it hard to wake up in the morning even when I go to bed early and thus miss morning practice.
Mainly I've stopped cooking and have relied on prepared foods. Now this isn't necessarily all bad but its expensive and greatly increases my chances of eating crap. Confession: I've been eating at Burger King (GASP!) more often than I would care to (which is not at all). They have a Veggie Burger and my roomies go there a lot so it's an easy choice. I've also been neglecting to eat enough fresh veggies mainly due to my not preparing my own food.
So what am I going to do? Well, the cooking is going to be a bit of a challenge but it's something I'm going to work towards fitting into my schedule. In terms of prepared foods I'm going to stick to the least processed, highest quality foods I can get. Probably mainly from TJ's and Whole Foods.
I'm also making a conscious effort to eat less. It's so easy when we follow a Vegan or other healthy diet to go out of control with portions. Now I'm not trying to lose weight. It would probably be really unhealthy for my weight to drop any lower. What I am going to work greatly on is eating smaller portions of healthier foods. I've really come to realize how much big portions of caloricaly dense foods slow me down. The past few days I've been monitoring portions and only eating till I'm full. I already feel much better.
I may expand on this as I progress but I think those two steps are a great place to start.
Now what does this have to do with my practice? Well, EVERYTHING! I have forgotten how instrumental the entire diet and outside life is to a successful practice. Sure, I've been doing my Asana and getting great results. But I know deep down that by implementing these bigger changes my other practices will be greatly assisted. I'll feel better and actually have the energy to practice every day (or almost every day at least).
Just to check in. Asana is going swimmingly. I'm progressing very steadily I would say. This is the first time I've ever been so consistent for so long and I can definitely tell. I won't go into too many details, I'll save for a later post.
Another project: renewing my Dharma Practice (It's also going great but I'll also save that for another blog entry)
Final Project: Get back to writing on here every day! I have so much to talk about and it really helps me check in and keep focus.
Stay tuned for the continued evolution of this process. And if you're one of my friends, either real life or online, please help keep an eye on me! One of the main reasons I started this blog was so that I would have public accountability. I love hearing from you guys and appreciate all your support!
Thursday is the toughie. I sign in the Mysore class at the studio and then head straight to work. By the time I come home I'm exhausted and have no strength or motivation to practice. I think I'm going to hold on to Thursday as my optional day of rest. I mean, it's not completely keeping with the original intent of this project. However the MAIN intent of the project was to observe the process of a consistent practice. With that being said I've observed that I really need that day both for the sake of my schedule and my body. But Friday is another matter. If I'm going to take Thursday as rest I'm going to need to be vigilant about making it to Friday Primary class.
So what does this all have to do with patterns? Well, I've realized that my challenges with those days (Friday specifically) have come from my complacency with my diet. Now many would argue that I'm healthy, and sadly by American standards I'm way healthier than the rest. I maintain a Vegan diet and try to avoid processed food, etc. However since this experiment began and my schedule's gotten booked I've really fallen back into some bad habits. This has created a drag on my system which makes it hard to wake up in the morning even when I go to bed early and thus miss morning practice.
Mainly I've stopped cooking and have relied on prepared foods. Now this isn't necessarily all bad but its expensive and greatly increases my chances of eating crap. Confession: I've been eating at Burger King (GASP!) more often than I would care to (which is not at all). They have a Veggie Burger and my roomies go there a lot so it's an easy choice. I've also been neglecting to eat enough fresh veggies mainly due to my not preparing my own food.
So what am I going to do? Well, the cooking is going to be a bit of a challenge but it's something I'm going to work towards fitting into my schedule. In terms of prepared foods I'm going to stick to the least processed, highest quality foods I can get. Probably mainly from TJ's and Whole Foods.
I'm also making a conscious effort to eat less. It's so easy when we follow a Vegan or other healthy diet to go out of control with portions. Now I'm not trying to lose weight. It would probably be really unhealthy for my weight to drop any lower. What I am going to work greatly on is eating smaller portions of healthier foods. I've really come to realize how much big portions of caloricaly dense foods slow me down. The past few days I've been monitoring portions and only eating till I'm full. I already feel much better.
I may expand on this as I progress but I think those two steps are a great place to start.
Now what does this have to do with my practice? Well, EVERYTHING! I have forgotten how instrumental the entire diet and outside life is to a successful practice. Sure, I've been doing my Asana and getting great results. But I know deep down that by implementing these bigger changes my other practices will be greatly assisted. I'll feel better and actually have the energy to practice every day (or almost every day at least).
Just to check in. Asana is going swimmingly. I'm progressing very steadily I would say. This is the first time I've ever been so consistent for so long and I can definitely tell. I won't go into too many details, I'll save for a later post.
Another project: renewing my Dharma Practice (It's also going great but I'll also save that for another blog entry)
Final Project: Get back to writing on here every day! I have so much to talk about and it really helps me check in and keep focus.
Stay tuned for the continued evolution of this process. And if you're one of my friends, either real life or online, please help keep an eye on me! One of the main reasons I started this blog was so that I would have public accountability. I love hearing from you guys and appreciate all your support!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Rob - Days 24-32: THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH TIME!
Hello friends, yogis and countryfolk. I've missed you guys and feel bad that I have been so absent, especially with how much has been going on in my practice!
I've really just been quite swamped with my work and teacher training. I learned a lesson last week about poor scheduling and admittedly my practice fell off for a couple days. I've compensated my count accordingly.
Oh yeah, it's been over a month either way! Amazing. And honestly it's working. I feel my yoga on a much deeper level than a little over 30 days ago. Of course I must attribute most of that to my training.
The YogaWorks method is such a departure from my typical Ashtanga practice that it's really shown me a completely different side of what the practice can be. There's an intense focus on alignment and most holds are upwards of 30 seconds. This coupled with a bit of vinyasa leads to a really intense practice. Oh yeah. And Natasha has us going for about 2 1/2 hours each time!
The days after I've been super tired, but once I recover I've been noticing new openings in my body. On top of this I have such a deeper awareness of alignment has completely changed my approach. I've done my regular Mysore practice a few times and felt in to my skeletal alignment in a new way. Basically what I've realized is that here to the majority of my focus was on "forcing" my tighter regions to open using mainly muscles, and the wrong ones at that. By aligning my bones neatly and engaging the correct muscles I've been able to come far deeper into many poses while simultaneously using less energy and having more focus on my breath! Hooray!
The single most beneficial teaching I've found is a proper Tadasana in ALL of my poses. By engaging my quads, lifting my arches, and in some cases aligning my pelvis properly I've found that I'm much more stable and can fold much deeper. This is surprisingly effective in the many forward folds in primary. To my amazement by engaging a proper Tadasana in the straight leg I'm able to straighten it nearly completely and fold almost completely flat. So it appears the much of my perceived hamstring curse was actually just poorly executed postures. I really mean this in a non-judgmental way. I'm so happy to be progressing based on execution and not by force!
And as if that weren't enough... I'm also finding that by proper aligning in poses I seem to be receiving much more energizing effects from them. I'm far less tired after practice and feel a deeper connection and sensitivity to the world. The awareness that I'm developing in the poses is helping my with my everyday awareness.
When I made this blog the Sanskrit words on the top that I chose are the second Yoga Sutra - "Yoga Citta Vritti Nirodhah". Roughly translated (and we discussed this in training as well) this means that Yoga enables one to still the mind and achieve an even focus (HA - that's the Rob Phillips version at least). I'm really starting to see how a physical practice of Asana can be so catalytic towards a spiritual and mindness practice.
Wow, that's a lot for one post.
And think, I'm only just over a month in. Where will I be in 11 more.....? :)
I've really just been quite swamped with my work and teacher training. I learned a lesson last week about poor scheduling and admittedly my practice fell off for a couple days. I've compensated my count accordingly.
Oh yeah, it's been over a month either way! Amazing. And honestly it's working. I feel my yoga on a much deeper level than a little over 30 days ago. Of course I must attribute most of that to my training.
The YogaWorks method is such a departure from my typical Ashtanga practice that it's really shown me a completely different side of what the practice can be. There's an intense focus on alignment and most holds are upwards of 30 seconds. This coupled with a bit of vinyasa leads to a really intense practice. Oh yeah. And Natasha has us going for about 2 1/2 hours each time!
The days after I've been super tired, but once I recover I've been noticing new openings in my body. On top of this I have such a deeper awareness of alignment has completely changed my approach. I've done my regular Mysore practice a few times and felt in to my skeletal alignment in a new way. Basically what I've realized is that here to the majority of my focus was on "forcing" my tighter regions to open using mainly muscles, and the wrong ones at that. By aligning my bones neatly and engaging the correct muscles I've been able to come far deeper into many poses while simultaneously using less energy and having more focus on my breath! Hooray!
The single most beneficial teaching I've found is a proper Tadasana in ALL of my poses. By engaging my quads, lifting my arches, and in some cases aligning my pelvis properly I've found that I'm much more stable and can fold much deeper. This is surprisingly effective in the many forward folds in primary. To my amazement by engaging a proper Tadasana in the straight leg I'm able to straighten it nearly completely and fold almost completely flat. So it appears the much of my perceived hamstring curse was actually just poorly executed postures. I really mean this in a non-judgmental way. I'm so happy to be progressing based on execution and not by force!
And as if that weren't enough... I'm also finding that by proper aligning in poses I seem to be receiving much more energizing effects from them. I'm far less tired after practice and feel a deeper connection and sensitivity to the world. The awareness that I'm developing in the poses is helping my with my everyday awareness.
When I made this blog the Sanskrit words on the top that I chose are the second Yoga Sutra - "Yoga Citta Vritti Nirodhah". Roughly translated (and we discussed this in training as well) this means that Yoga enables one to still the mind and achieve an even focus (HA - that's the Rob Phillips version at least). I'm really starting to see how a physical practice of Asana can be so catalytic towards a spiritual and mindness practice.
Wow, that's a lot for one post.
And think, I'm only just over a month in. Where will I be in 11 more.....? :)
Monday, September 21, 2009
Heather - Day Thirty-Six
Today was a rough day...sigh...I have a boyfriend of six months who I love very much and we just had our first little - not fight - ugly spot. Without going into detail, things were said, stories got spinning in my head and I had a crappy day - as well as he. But I can tell you, I did NOT feel like practicing yoga. I went to two meditation classes where I did little but think about the situation and still I NEEDED to practice so after the second meditation class, taught admirably by our dear Rob, I bit the bullet and took Ashtanga. I was doing....OK....while my own practice is usually an almost complete primary, I made it to Janu sirsasana B before I needed to come to child's pose and just breathe. I stayed there through all the marichiasanas and came to some milder backbends and the closing poses. Because Ashtanga's focus is meant to be the breath, I chose to come to child's pose when my breath was becoming unmanageable due to emotion. I have had emotional practices before and usually I feel better at the end. But I knew that I wouldn't feel better until I talked to the boyfriend face to face. So, after practicing and teaching, I did so.
I think having to move on with my life when all I wanted to do was crawl into a hole, or the arms of my boyfriend, was useful. It was never easy, but I am glad I had the yoga to disperse some of the tension and to find some level of acceptance with how I was feeling, rather than continuing to wish for it to change.
Of course, everything between the two of us is fine. We are great communicators with one another and we resolved the little problem before it could become an issue.
Thank-you yoga!
WishinG you happiness and metta from a little dot in the universe called Boston,
Heather
I think having to move on with my life when all I wanted to do was crawl into a hole, or the arms of my boyfriend, was useful. It was never easy, but I am glad I had the yoga to disperse some of the tension and to find some level of acceptance with how I was feeling, rather than continuing to wish for it to change.
Of course, everything between the two of us is fine. We are great communicators with one another and we resolved the little problem before it could become an issue.
Thank-you yoga!
WishinG you happiness and metta from a little dot in the universe called Boston,
Heather
Heather - Days Thirty-Two - Thirty Five
I went away over the weekend for my birthday. I went to Chicago (Naperville, really) to meet my aunt, mother, and cousin's wife for a girl's weekend out. Though none of my family members are regular (if ever) yoga practioners I was determined (as it was my birthday) to get to a class everyday!
Thursday I got to the airport super early, so I changed into my yoga clothes and found a quiet corner near my gate, laid out my mat and did an hour of Yin - well, I added a headstand just because I love inverting and was really feeling it. I slipped into my iPod world and had a much better flight for it!
While in Chicago I did manage to take yoga on Friday and Saturday. On Friday I visited Universal Spirit. A pretty little space, has hosted WAH! in the past. They offer yoga to all ages - children's classes, seniors' classes, pre/post natal and focus on Hatha styles. The class I took was at 8am on Friday. I have never taken a Hatha class and the desciption of this class said that we would warm up with a few suns, move through some standing and proceed to seated. That was not the case. Generally, the class was uneven in its offerings. I would take class there again, but probably not with the same teacher. I do believe, however, that she is a good teacher, she just didn't align with what I wanted out of a yoga class.
On Saturday morning, 8:15, I took my first Baptiste Power Yoga class at Power Your Om, also in Naperville. I was a little nervous, due to the reputation that that style has, and was very happy to have gone. It was to the point, there was no teacher opening chatting, just pose and go. The teacher really took the opportunity to encourage mindfulness while we were sweating it out on our mats. The sequencing was logical and simple. I would definitely go back or even try Baptiste here in its homeland!
On Sunday, it was a little airport yoga and then home to teach that evening.
Before going I searched high and low for a Mysore or Ashtanga studio. And I considered just doing self-practice at the hotel, but the floor in the gym wasn't conducive to a yoga mat and there was carpeting in the hotel room. So what I learned was that yoga - on some level - is yoga. It doesn't matter who is teaching, or how warm the room is, or whether you are sweating like crazy or chilling out in badha konasana over a bolster. Your practice is always in your hands and no teacher can make you do any pose or go to any depth that you don't choose to do. Yoga is for listening to your own body and while we have teachers that are like the finger pointing to the moon, it is our job to not get caught up in the hand, but to follow it's direction and know the moon with our own eyes.
Wishing you hapPiness and metta from a little dot in the universe called Boston,
Heather
Thursday I got to the airport super early, so I changed into my yoga clothes and found a quiet corner near my gate, laid out my mat and did an hour of Yin - well, I added a headstand just because I love inverting and was really feeling it. I slipped into my iPod world and had a much better flight for it!
While in Chicago I did manage to take yoga on Friday and Saturday. On Friday I visited Universal Spirit. A pretty little space, has hosted WAH! in the past. They offer yoga to all ages - children's classes, seniors' classes, pre/post natal and focus on Hatha styles. The class I took was at 8am on Friday. I have never taken a Hatha class and the desciption of this class said that we would warm up with a few suns, move through some standing and proceed to seated. That was not the case. Generally, the class was uneven in its offerings. I would take class there again, but probably not with the same teacher. I do believe, however, that she is a good teacher, she just didn't align with what I wanted out of a yoga class.
On Saturday morning, 8:15, I took my first Baptiste Power Yoga class at Power Your Om, also in Naperville. I was a little nervous, due to the reputation that that style has, and was very happy to have gone. It was to the point, there was no teacher opening chatting, just pose and go. The teacher really took the opportunity to encourage mindfulness while we were sweating it out on our mats. The sequencing was logical and simple. I would definitely go back or even try Baptiste here in its homeland!
On Sunday, it was a little airport yoga and then home to teach that evening.
Before going I searched high and low for a Mysore or Ashtanga studio. And I considered just doing self-practice at the hotel, but the floor in the gym wasn't conducive to a yoga mat and there was carpeting in the hotel room. So what I learned was that yoga - on some level - is yoga. It doesn't matter who is teaching, or how warm the room is, or whether you are sweating like crazy or chilling out in badha konasana over a bolster. Your practice is always in your hands and no teacher can make you do any pose or go to any depth that you don't choose to do. Yoga is for listening to your own body and while we have teachers that are like the finger pointing to the moon, it is our job to not get caught up in the hand, but to follow it's direction and know the moon with our own eyes.
Wishing you hapPiness and metta from a little dot in the universe called Boston,
Heather
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Heather - Days Twenty-Six - Twenty-Eight: David Swenson!!!!!
David. Swenson.
O. M. G.
L. M. A. O.
For those of you who aren't as familiar with David Swenson, he is a big name teacher in the Ashtanga world and he is HILARIOUS!!! We were very honored at Back Bay Yoga to have him for a weekend of 6 workshops followed by a week of teacher training, which, I am sad to say that I have not had the opportunity to partake due to scheduling conflicts. I hope to next time around, for sure!
I can't even quite begin to explain the joy of practicing in a room of so many dedicated Ashtangis. We did a full primary on Saturday morning and, admittedly, by the second or third Sun B, I am usually feeling eager for the standing poses. But Saturday morning, it felt soooo easy - the WHOLE primary, relatively speaking. The energy in the room was so focused and everyone was working so hard. It was electric and I almost felt afterward like my body practiced for me rather me making my body go through practice. It was sensational! I started giggling in svasana because I was so euphoric.
And he made it so easy with his voice and general attitude. This is not to say that my body wasn't sore or tired later on, but it didn't feel like a struggle at some of the places that I often struggle - whether it be with my ego or my body. Everything was OK. I am going to definitely try my best to keep that in my practice!
As I write this, I realize that I could spend thousands of words trying to explain everything I learned in this series of workshops from Mr. Swenson. There are just a few problems with attempting to take on such a thing. One, if you weren't there you won't really be able to grasp exactly what he was saying because his classes were dependent so much on the experience of what he was talking about. Two, I am not a co-author or collaborator, so I am not even sure how much of his stuff I should actually share without his permission. Three, as I practice in my life everything I think I have learned from him will have a totally different perspective, so I can guarantee that I don't have a very full understanding of the information covered.
Let me just highlight what I found really noteworthy. He emphasized something that I have always tried to bring to my practice. Someone asked him about meditating and his own practices. He said an actual seated practice is not part of the Ashtanga prescription, but that most teacher do some sort of seated practice independently of the Ashtanga practice. Then he said it: The thing that just solidifies what I have instinctually felt for a long time, but no one has ever said quite so directly. The practice, the movement, is itself a form of meditation - in motion. The striving of trying to get into this posture or that posture shouldn't be the focus. Breath, concentration, deep listening, the union of mind, body, heart - those things are yoga. Strength, flexibility, stamina, increased health, even a quiet mind are all side benefits of yoga. No one NEEDS to be able to do a full split or stand on their hands. The physical demands of a human existence don't require anything that fancy. So whether it takes someone one week or one year or ten years or never to be able to bind in marichasana D, it doesn't matter. It is a fun goal and something that as you work toward it can have visible results. But true yoga is for learning patience, surrender, acceptance, and universality. For me, it is learning that inner peace isn't dependent on and doesn't necessarily result in ideal external situations. It is learning to walk your path with diginity and delight - to set goals with intention and honesty, but work towards them with sincerity and flexibility. Yoga is learning to know that no one is special because everyone is special and that we all struggle and strive, laugh and learn, and have our ugly moments and our beautiful ones.
Thank-you David Swenson!
WishIng you happiness and metta from a little dot in the universe called Boston,
Heather
O. M. G.
L. M. A. O.
For those of you who aren't as familiar with David Swenson, he is a big name teacher in the Ashtanga world and he is HILARIOUS!!! We were very honored at Back Bay Yoga to have him for a weekend of 6 workshops followed by a week of teacher training, which, I am sad to say that I have not had the opportunity to partake due to scheduling conflicts. I hope to next time around, for sure!
I can't even quite begin to explain the joy of practicing in a room of so many dedicated Ashtangis. We did a full primary on Saturday morning and, admittedly, by the second or third Sun B, I am usually feeling eager for the standing poses. But Saturday morning, it felt soooo easy - the WHOLE primary, relatively speaking. The energy in the room was so focused and everyone was working so hard. It was electric and I almost felt afterward like my body practiced for me rather me making my body go through practice. It was sensational! I started giggling in svasana because I was so euphoric.
And he made it so easy with his voice and general attitude. This is not to say that my body wasn't sore or tired later on, but it didn't feel like a struggle at some of the places that I often struggle - whether it be with my ego or my body. Everything was OK. I am going to definitely try my best to keep that in my practice!
As I write this, I realize that I could spend thousands of words trying to explain everything I learned in this series of workshops from Mr. Swenson. There are just a few problems with attempting to take on such a thing. One, if you weren't there you won't really be able to grasp exactly what he was saying because his classes were dependent so much on the experience of what he was talking about. Two, I am not a co-author or collaborator, so I am not even sure how much of his stuff I should actually share without his permission. Three, as I practice in my life everything I think I have learned from him will have a totally different perspective, so I can guarantee that I don't have a very full understanding of the information covered.
Let me just highlight what I found really noteworthy. He emphasized something that I have always tried to bring to my practice. Someone asked him about meditating and his own practices. He said an actual seated practice is not part of the Ashtanga prescription, but that most teacher do some sort of seated practice independently of the Ashtanga practice. Then he said it: The thing that just solidifies what I have instinctually felt for a long time, but no one has ever said quite so directly. The practice, the movement, is itself a form of meditation - in motion. The striving of trying to get into this posture or that posture shouldn't be the focus. Breath, concentration, deep listening, the union of mind, body, heart - those things are yoga. Strength, flexibility, stamina, increased health, even a quiet mind are all side benefits of yoga. No one NEEDS to be able to do a full split or stand on their hands. The physical demands of a human existence don't require anything that fancy. So whether it takes someone one week or one year or ten years or never to be able to bind in marichasana D, it doesn't matter. It is a fun goal and something that as you work toward it can have visible results. But true yoga is for learning patience, surrender, acceptance, and universality. For me, it is learning that inner peace isn't dependent on and doesn't necessarily result in ideal external situations. It is learning to walk your path with diginity and delight - to set goals with intention and honesty, but work towards them with sincerity and flexibility. Yoga is learning to know that no one is special because everyone is special and that we all struggle and strive, laugh and learn, and have our ugly moments and our beautiful ones.
Thank-you David Swenson!
WishIng you happiness and metta from a little dot in the universe called Boston,
Heather
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Rob - Day 23: YogaWorks Teacher Training Day 1!
Well the big day finally arrived! What day is that? You know, the one I've been talking about since the first day of this blog. My first day of teacher training! This really could be like 3 posts but maybe I'll keep it simple for now.
So, where to begin. Well. For starters it's a big group. 42 aspiring teachers and advanced practitioners in all. For those of you not familiar with Back Bay Yoga that's a really tight fit for the sun room (where the training is being held). But it turned out to be mostly manageable. We staggered mats so we were even able to spread our arms during sun salutes and such.
I don't believed I mentioned this previously but I'm taking the training on scholarship (AMAZING) which means that I have to help with the sign in and administration of the course. As such I was relegated to what is probably the least desirable spot in the room. I had to watch out from hitting my arm on the window to my left and my head on the wall in fron of me. Did this deter from my experience. Hell no it didn't!
I feel like I learned more in that first day than in a month of practice. What I'm coming to realize is how little I know about alignment. Fortunately for me the YogaWorks method is ALL about alignment and correct posture. I'm sure that by the end of this all my practice and understanding will have skyrocketed to an amazing level.
Funny anecdote for the day: Natasha taught us proper forward folding technique using a Barbie doll. Now this is funny in and of itself. What makes this story hilarious is that not only did she demo with the Barbie, but she had cut its hair to the exact same cut as hers. So we watched the doll demo, and then her demo. Needless to say the juxtaposition was hysterical.
Tomorrow's day two! Stay tuned.
So, where to begin. Well. For starters it's a big group. 42 aspiring teachers and advanced practitioners in all. For those of you not familiar with Back Bay Yoga that's a really tight fit for the sun room (where the training is being held). But it turned out to be mostly manageable. We staggered mats so we were even able to spread our arms during sun salutes and such.
I don't believed I mentioned this previously but I'm taking the training on scholarship (AMAZING) which means that I have to help with the sign in and administration of the course. As such I was relegated to what is probably the least desirable spot in the room. I had to watch out from hitting my arm on the window to my left and my head on the wall in fron of me. Did this deter from my experience. Hell no it didn't!
I feel like I learned more in that first day than in a month of practice. What I'm coming to realize is how little I know about alignment. Fortunately for me the YogaWorks method is ALL about alignment and correct posture. I'm sure that by the end of this all my practice and understanding will have skyrocketed to an amazing level.
Funny anecdote for the day: Natasha taught us proper forward folding technique using a Barbie doll. Now this is funny in and of itself. What makes this story hilarious is that not only did she demo with the Barbie, but she had cut its hair to the exact same cut as hers. So we watched the doll demo, and then her demo. Needless to say the juxtaposition was hysterical.
Tomorrow's day two! Stay tuned.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Rob - Day 22: MSM (Meditation Slow-Flow Meditation)
Having learned from my mistakes I made a valiant effort to get some sort of active practice in this morning. Unfortunately my cycle has not completely recovered (it's on it's way though) so I didn't make it to led primary this morning.
I did however make it to the meditation cushion, then the mat, and then back to the cushion. Basically self-explanatory. For the Yoga part I did a little free form flow. Some sun salutes, a few standing poses and that's about it. The asana part was only about half an hour but the whole cycle was about 1:15. I feel pretty good about it.
When I was at work I reminded myself why I do an active practice in the morning. I'm so much more focused and on point. Rest assured yoga friends, I will not be missing my practices henceforth. And tomorrow. Well tomorrows a pretty damn big day.
I did however make it to the meditation cushion, then the mat, and then back to the cushion. Basically self-explanatory. For the Yoga part I did a little free form flow. Some sun salutes, a few standing poses and that's about it. The asana part was only about half an hour but the whole cycle was about 1:15. I feel pretty good about it.
When I was at work I reminded myself why I do an active practice in the morning. I'm so much more focused and on point. Rest assured yoga friends, I will not be missing my practices henceforth. And tomorrow. Well tomorrows a pretty damn big day.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Rob - Days 22-23: FAIL! Okay, not really.
And then I lost my momentum...
Well, I guess this is an epic fail in terms of the commitment but I'm really okay with it. Both Wednesday and Thursday I didn't practice. I've thought about it a bit and came to some realizations why. NOT excuses mind you. But reasons why. I feel that learning from our mistakes and continually improving is a far more important part of Yoga than any asana practice anyways.
So what are the reasons? Well it all goes back to the Labor Day weekend. While I think it was a wise choice to stick to a more Yin practice at that point I definitely lost my momentum and drive for my yang practice. I also stayed out really late AND drank on Sunday, effectively undoing my sleep cycle. This meant that I was in no state to wake up for Mysore. I've realized that with the current state of my schedule I'm going to have to make every effort to make it to practice in the morning otherwise I won't have the time or the ambition to do a proper yang practice. I guess for the time being I'll have to forsake the late night shenanigans. Sorry crazy friends, looks like you're going to have to find me during daylight hours from now on.
Well, I guess this is an epic fail in terms of the commitment but I'm really okay with it. Both Wednesday and Thursday I didn't practice. I've thought about it a bit and came to some realizations why. NOT excuses mind you. But reasons why. I feel that learning from our mistakes and continually improving is a far more important part of Yoga than any asana practice anyways.
So what are the reasons? Well it all goes back to the Labor Day weekend. While I think it was a wise choice to stick to a more Yin practice at that point I definitely lost my momentum and drive for my yang practice. I also stayed out really late AND drank on Sunday, effectively undoing my sleep cycle. This meant that I was in no state to wake up for Mysore. I've realized that with the current state of my schedule I'm going to have to make every effort to make it to practice in the morning otherwise I won't have the time or the ambition to do a proper yang practice. I guess for the time being I'll have to forsake the late night shenanigans. Sorry crazy friends, looks like you're going to have to find me during daylight hours from now on.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Heather - Day Sixteen thru Twenty: Moon Days: the plight of the woman...
Guys! If you are squeamish about women's issues, then don't read this blog.
Menstruation. In the Ashtanga system women are expected to not practice while they are menstruating. Most say the reason is that a woman's natural energy flow at that time is downward, and she shouldn't upset that - particularly with inversions - which even standing forward folds and downward facing dogs are considered to be. It is also true, myself included, that it taxes the body while it is purifying itself. It is believed that the blood that leaves the body is particularly filled with toxins and impurities of which the kidneys are gladly getting rid. Therefore, putting the body through such a rigorous practice only exhausts the body in a way that is not beneficial. So...there you have it - the main reasons I have found why female Ashtangis do not and/or are encouraged not to practice during their cycles.
Not completely trusting this, early in my yoga life, I began to interview trusted teachers and long-time practioners of Ashtanga AND other styles. It seems, in my limited research, that yoginis outside of Ashtanga and Iyengar do not buy into or adhere to this notion of resting during their cycle. A couple of teachers from one tradition half-jokingly said, "Yoga was invented by men and the only reason women are told not to practice is because a long time ago men thought if women went upside down, they would bleed from their eyeballs." However, Patricia Walden contributed much of the writing to a wonderful book about yoga for women entitled: The Woman's Book of Yoga and Health: A Lifelong Guide to Wellness; I also took her class in Cambridge once and observed a student completely propped up and doing long restorative holds while the rest of the class continued through a beginning Iyengar sequence. In both places it is clear from her actions and words that she supports a restful, restorative practice during a woman's monthly cycle. Many of the practioners outside of Ashtanga that I spoke with said that they had been practicing at all times for years and never had a problem and felt fine. Inside the practice, one teacher and fellow student said, "yoga works us on subtle energetic levels before we may be able to sense them. It is better to be safe than sorry and, besides, is this a practice for a few years, or a lifetime?"
So, for me, I listen to my body and try to respect tradition in combination. If I am feeling really physically tired as often happens in the week before, I skip a couple of days. I also refrain from practice on the first three days. After that, depending on how I feel, I go to practice and do a shorter, modified sequence: I skip backbends and full upside down inversions. I do do the forward folds and down dogs, however.
I also have to say that I experimented for three months with practicing everyday and honestly? My cramps were far less severe (and I have pretty severe ones) and sometimes, I just felt sooo much better after sweating it out. Inversions felt great - they always do anyway. But I kept going back to what my friend Anna had said about subtle energy. I DO want to practice for a lifetime. I also know that there are days when I did do the practice regardless and felt worse for it. Maybe it is a crapshoot, maybe it is meaningless either way. Maybe it is just an antiquated tradition. But, in some people's minds, so is vacation and siesta or afternoon tea. The point is, I have been raised in a society where developping an inner awareness takes A LOT of work. It is not honored or glorified by western culture - if it ever was. And just as the eight limbs of yoga are a process of moving from the external to the internal until all is united, I have faith in the notion that if I practice, all will come - not the "all" I expect or envision, and certainly not when I want (which is sooner rather than later) - and for me, all will be welcome!
WisHing you happiness and from a little dot in the universe called Boston,
Heather
Menstruation. In the Ashtanga system women are expected to not practice while they are menstruating. Most say the reason is that a woman's natural energy flow at that time is downward, and she shouldn't upset that - particularly with inversions - which even standing forward folds and downward facing dogs are considered to be. It is also true, myself included, that it taxes the body while it is purifying itself. It is believed that the blood that leaves the body is particularly filled with toxins and impurities of which the kidneys are gladly getting rid. Therefore, putting the body through such a rigorous practice only exhausts the body in a way that is not beneficial. So...there you have it - the main reasons I have found why female Ashtangis do not and/or are encouraged not to practice during their cycles.
Not completely trusting this, early in my yoga life, I began to interview trusted teachers and long-time practioners of Ashtanga AND other styles. It seems, in my limited research, that yoginis outside of Ashtanga and Iyengar do not buy into or adhere to this notion of resting during their cycle. A couple of teachers from one tradition half-jokingly said, "Yoga was invented by men and the only reason women are told not to practice is because a long time ago men thought if women went upside down, they would bleed from their eyeballs." However, Patricia Walden contributed much of the writing to a wonderful book about yoga for women entitled: The Woman's Book of Yoga and Health: A Lifelong Guide to Wellness; I also took her class in Cambridge once and observed a student completely propped up and doing long restorative holds while the rest of the class continued through a beginning Iyengar sequence. In both places it is clear from her actions and words that she supports a restful, restorative practice during a woman's monthly cycle. Many of the practioners outside of Ashtanga that I spoke with said that they had been practicing at all times for years and never had a problem and felt fine. Inside the practice, one teacher and fellow student said, "yoga works us on subtle energetic levels before we may be able to sense them. It is better to be safe than sorry and, besides, is this a practice for a few years, or a lifetime?"
So, for me, I listen to my body and try to respect tradition in combination. If I am feeling really physically tired as often happens in the week before, I skip a couple of days. I also refrain from practice on the first three days. After that, depending on how I feel, I go to practice and do a shorter, modified sequence: I skip backbends and full upside down inversions. I do do the forward folds and down dogs, however.
I also have to say that I experimented for three months with practicing everyday and honestly? My cramps were far less severe (and I have pretty severe ones) and sometimes, I just felt sooo much better after sweating it out. Inversions felt great - they always do anyway. But I kept going back to what my friend Anna had said about subtle energy. I DO want to practice for a lifetime. I also know that there are days when I did do the practice regardless and felt worse for it. Maybe it is a crapshoot, maybe it is meaningless either way. Maybe it is just an antiquated tradition. But, in some people's minds, so is vacation and siesta or afternoon tea. The point is, I have been raised in a society where developping an inner awareness takes A LOT of work. It is not honored or glorified by western culture - if it ever was. And just as the eight limbs of yoga are a process of moving from the external to the internal until all is united, I have faith in the notion that if I practice, all will come - not the "all" I expect or envision, and certainly not when I want (which is sooner rather than later) - and for me, all will be welcome!
WisHing you happiness and from a little dot in the universe called Boston,
Heather
Heather Day Seven thru Fourteen: Part Two
Car Yoga.
While on vacation, (a road trip from Boston to Iowa), we spent a total of 42 hours in the car just to get from one place to the other. So I put together a 45 minute car yin yoga flow - not to be done while driving mind you, but definitely to be done with the seatbelt on. Safety first!!! Keep in mind a sweaty flow isn't really possible and probably not advisable in such a small space, but making some time to open up those parts of your body that get crunched from hours of sitting is a welcome prospect. So, here it is:
For the hips/groin, start with at least five minutes of square pose on each side. You can fold forward and actually lay your face on the dashboard, or push the seat all the way back so you may fold deeper.
Believe it or not, you CAN do saddle - which is the best and most accessible way I can think of to open the front of those hip flexors that get so used to being bent in a seated position. Lay the seat down, sit on your heels facing the front of the car(if you had to unbuckle to get there, rebuckle) and lay back. Depending on the capability of your specific car to lay down, you may have varying depths of saddle at your disposal - but you don't need a deep pose to reap the benefits.
Then, turn around (unbuckling and rebuckling when necessary) and lay down on your stomach. You can come onto your elbows for sphinx pose here. When I did it, my legs from my knees down were dangling off the front edge of the seat. My knees didn't really enjoy that, so I bent them and rested the tops of my feet on the dash. That really intensified the back bend, so I actually ended up laying back down on my chest and still got a GREAT back bend.
Then readjust to bring your knees onto the seat and your hips to your heels (perhaps allowing your feet to dangle off the edge of the seat and come into childs pose.
Another great way to re-open the back body is to sit down like normal in the seat and spread your knees as wide as you can and fold forward as deeply as possible - trying, without straining, to lay as much of your belly on the space or seat between your legs. Make sure that your head dangles and your neck is released.
Next you can lay down. Drawing one leg up at a time(straight or maybe slightly bent) you can come into supta padhangustasana. If you are flexy you can hold onto your toe, if not, find the appropriate angle that gives you that nice hamstring stretch and rest your foot on the ceiling of the car. *for you ashtangis out there, there will obviously be NO opening to the side in this pose! =)* Your resting leg may either be on the dash or you could put your foot on the floor of the car.
From here you can also work with paschimotanasana. Rest both feet on the floor or on the dash and come into a nice forward fold over your legs.
You can also do janu sirsasana in the car believe it or not! Just sit sideways in the passenger seat facing the driver to bend your left leg and facing the passenger window to bend your right leg. You then extend your other leg toward the floor of the car, folding over the extended leg. It is GREAT!!!!
For svasana, just lay back, find the most comfortable laying down posture you can, close your eyes and be proud of yourself for doing yoga in the car!!!
Wishing you happiness and mettA from a little dot in the universe called Boston,
Heather
While on vacation, (a road trip from Boston to Iowa), we spent a total of 42 hours in the car just to get from one place to the other. So I put together a 45 minute car yin yoga flow - not to be done while driving mind you, but definitely to be done with the seatbelt on. Safety first!!! Keep in mind a sweaty flow isn't really possible and probably not advisable in such a small space, but making some time to open up those parts of your body that get crunched from hours of sitting is a welcome prospect. So, here it is:
For the hips/groin, start with at least five minutes of square pose on each side. You can fold forward and actually lay your face on the dashboard, or push the seat all the way back so you may fold deeper.
Believe it or not, you CAN do saddle - which is the best and most accessible way I can think of to open the front of those hip flexors that get so used to being bent in a seated position. Lay the seat down, sit on your heels facing the front of the car(if you had to unbuckle to get there, rebuckle) and lay back. Depending on the capability of your specific car to lay down, you may have varying depths of saddle at your disposal - but you don't need a deep pose to reap the benefits.
Then, turn around (unbuckling and rebuckling when necessary) and lay down on your stomach. You can come onto your elbows for sphinx pose here. When I did it, my legs from my knees down were dangling off the front edge of the seat. My knees didn't really enjoy that, so I bent them and rested the tops of my feet on the dash. That really intensified the back bend, so I actually ended up laying back down on my chest and still got a GREAT back bend.
Then readjust to bring your knees onto the seat and your hips to your heels (perhaps allowing your feet to dangle off the edge of the seat and come into childs pose.
Another great way to re-open the back body is to sit down like normal in the seat and spread your knees as wide as you can and fold forward as deeply as possible - trying, without straining, to lay as much of your belly on the space or seat between your legs. Make sure that your head dangles and your neck is released.
Next you can lay down. Drawing one leg up at a time(straight or maybe slightly bent) you can come into supta padhangustasana. If you are flexy you can hold onto your toe, if not, find the appropriate angle that gives you that nice hamstring stretch and rest your foot on the ceiling of the car. *for you ashtangis out there, there will obviously be NO opening to the side in this pose! =)* Your resting leg may either be on the dash or you could put your foot on the floor of the car.
From here you can also work with paschimotanasana. Rest both feet on the floor or on the dash and come into a nice forward fold over your legs.
You can also do janu sirsasana in the car believe it or not! Just sit sideways in the passenger seat facing the driver to bend your left leg and facing the passenger window to bend your right leg. You then extend your other leg toward the floor of the car, folding over the extended leg. It is GREAT!!!!
For svasana, just lay back, find the most comfortable laying down posture you can, close your eyes and be proud of yourself for doing yoga in the car!!!
Wishing you happiness and mettA from a little dot in the universe called Boston,
Heather
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Rob - Day 21: Mini-Yin(i)
3 weeks! I almost can't believe it...
I celebrated the occassion with the most anticlimactic practice ever. I just did about 1/2 hour of Yin poses before I went to be. Really nothing exciting to report at all. Just checking in for the day. Hope all is well out in Yoga Land!
Also, I took this quiz from Yoga Journal. I took it a little while ago and it said that I'm a "Spritual Snob" but this this time I got a more favorable result:
I celebrated the occassion with the most anticlimactic practice ever. I just did about 1/2 hour of Yin poses before I went to be. Really nothing exciting to report at all. Just checking in for the day. Hope all is well out in Yoga Land!
Also, I took this quiz from Yoga Journal. I took it a little while ago and it said that I'm a "Spritual Snob" but this this time I got a more favorable result:
A Balanced YogiYou love your friends unconditionally and accept them for who they are no |
| Take the Yoga Journal Yoga Snob Quiz! |
Monday, September 7, 2009
Rob - Day 20: Yin - Labor Day
One aspect of blogging that I haven't explored as of yet is writing an entry IMMEDIATELY after practice. Well, here it is! I literally rose from savasana and came here to write this. I feel kinda magical right now. But more on that later.
Today is Labor Day and the weather was more than cooperative. All around this weekend was spectacular and restful. Exactly what I needed. I'm really digging the cool weather. I think it's mellowing out some of my excessive fire from the summer because I'm feeling much more mellow.
There was no Mysore this morning because the studio was closed so I slept in really late after my slightly debauchery evening last night. I think my body needed a little rest after an intense two weeks of practice so I'm feeling okay about easing on the active practice.
Today I continued the cleaning process of the house, this time enlisting the help of the roommates. We're decluttering the house and frankly I couldn't be any happier about it. Right now I'm trying to approach my life in a real minimalist fashion, especially with my living space. YAY ZEN LIVING!
So I had originally intended to got to Heather's Yin class tonight but instead I opted to practice at home. (Sorry Heather!) I felt that his would give me the chance to get to bed a bed earlier and start off the work week with a fresh battery. And tonight I did it up! I don't know why I hadn't thought of this earlier, but I have several hundred tealights and some awesome holders. In my newly cleaned room I set up a few, put on Steve Roaches' Mantram (really cool ambient music with light percussion) and proceeded to do this Yin sequence:
And I think I'm off to bed after a wonderful and relaxing weekend...
Today is Labor Day and the weather was more than cooperative. All around this weekend was spectacular and restful. Exactly what I needed. I'm really digging the cool weather. I think it's mellowing out some of my excessive fire from the summer because I'm feeling much more mellow.
There was no Mysore this morning because the studio was closed so I slept in really late after my slightly debauchery evening last night. I think my body needed a little rest after an intense two weeks of practice so I'm feeling okay about easing on the active practice.
Today I continued the cleaning process of the house, this time enlisting the help of the roommates. We're decluttering the house and frankly I couldn't be any happier about it. Right now I'm trying to approach my life in a real minimalist fashion, especially with my living space. YAY ZEN LIVING!
So I had originally intended to got to Heather's Yin class tonight but instead I opted to practice at home. (Sorry Heather!) I felt that his would give me the chance to get to bed a bed earlier and start off the work week with a fresh battery. And tonight I did it up! I don't know why I hadn't thought of this earlier, but I have several hundred tealights and some awesome holders. In my newly cleaned room I set up a few, put on Steve Roaches' Mantram (really cool ambient music with light percussion) and proceeded to do this Yin sequence:
Butterfly 5 minsAhhhhhhhhh. It worked. For those of you readers at home I highly recommend this sequence.
Downward Dog 1 min
Dragon Left Leg Forward 5 mins
Pigeon Left Leg Forward 5 mins
1/2 Butterfly Right Leg Forward 5 mins
Childs Pose 3 Mins
Downward Dog 1 Min
Dragon Right Leg Forward 5 mins
Pigeon Right Leg Forward 5 mins
1/2 Butterfly Left Leg Forward 5 mins
Downward Dog 1 Min
Supta Padangusthasana w/strap 5 mins/side
Twisted Root 5 mins/side
Savasana 10 mins
And I think I'm off to bed after a wonderful and relaxing weekend...
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Rob - Day 19: Vinyasa
Oh Boston. Sometimes I loathe you and the weather which you spout, but this weekend you've been SO kind. It's been cool and sunny and I LOVE it! Fall is definitely my favorite season and this Labor Day weekend has been such a kind welcome to the autumn.
So due to the holiday Mysore this morning was a self practice. I've been really letting myself take it easy these past few days so I eschewed my morning practice for the day. I slept in a bit a cleaned up my room. I always forget just how much having a clean environment supports having a clean mind. I feel so much more calm and collected when my space is in order. I'm definitely going to make a consistent effort to maintain the cleanliness around here. It's so much more yogic anyways, right?
So after a day of cleaning I was quite tired and thinking of doing another home practice. But it was SO nice outside that I decided to head downtown and take Vinyasa with Nicoline. Given the holiday weekend and the splendid weather I assumed that it would be hard to find a spot so I left super early. For whatever reason I found a spot on the first go around, within a few blocks of the studio. This seems to be the case consistently and I really don't know why. I guess I have good "Parking Karma?" I was really thankful for the extra time. I spent about a half hour walking through the public garden, soaking up the sun and delightfully cool air.
Class too was quite lovely. Nicoline's classes are always really flowing and calming, even though they can be quite challenging at times. She often integrates QiGong like movements in the poses which is a great way to feel your PranaQi outside the body. Even though Ashtanga is still my main practice I'm finding within this commitment that doing a little "cross-training" is pretty beneficial. It gives me a chance to get into different poses that aren't part of my regular practice.
After class I went out with friends. Since the studio is closed in the morning on Monday for Labor Day I decided to stay out much later than I normally would and even (TISK TISK) had a few drinks. I don't know if it's the daily practice or what but my tolerance is GONE. I only had three drinks spread out over several hours but I was quite tipsy. Definitely something to be mindful of especially given my Fifth Precept (I'm a practicing Buddhist). But I had a great time and it's probably worthwhile for me not to get too caught up in my routine and OCCASIONALLY act my own age (26...not 66) :).
So due to the holiday Mysore this morning was a self practice. I've been really letting myself take it easy these past few days so I eschewed my morning practice for the day. I slept in a bit a cleaned up my room. I always forget just how much having a clean environment supports having a clean mind. I feel so much more calm and collected when my space is in order. I'm definitely going to make a consistent effort to maintain the cleanliness around here. It's so much more yogic anyways, right?
So after a day of cleaning I was quite tired and thinking of doing another home practice. But it was SO nice outside that I decided to head downtown and take Vinyasa with Nicoline. Given the holiday weekend and the splendid weather I assumed that it would be hard to find a spot so I left super early. For whatever reason I found a spot on the first go around, within a few blocks of the studio. This seems to be the case consistently and I really don't know why. I guess I have good "Parking Karma?" I was really thankful for the extra time. I spent about a half hour walking through the public garden, soaking up the sun and delightfully cool air.
Class too was quite lovely. Nicoline's classes are always really flowing and calming, even though they can be quite challenging at times. She often integrates QiGong like movements in the poses which is a great way to feel your PranaQi outside the body. Even though Ashtanga is still my main practice I'm finding within this commitment that doing a little "cross-training" is pretty beneficial. It gives me a chance to get into different poses that aren't part of my regular practice.
After class I went out with friends. Since the studio is closed in the morning on Monday for Labor Day I decided to stay out much later than I normally would and even (TISK TISK) had a few drinks. I don't know if it's the daily practice or what but my tolerance is GONE. I only had three drinks spread out over several hours but I was quite tipsy. Definitely something to be mindful of especially given my Fifth Precept (I'm a practicing Buddhist). But I had a great time and it's probably worthwhile for me not to get too caught up in my routine and OCCASIONALLY act my own age (26...not 66) :).
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Rob - Day 18: Yin
So it's labor day weekend and was feeling quite ready for the impending break. I slept in fairly late and putzed around for a while. Then I remembered my rewarding experience yesterday so I reluctantly dragged myself to the mat knowing that by the time I was done that I would feel much better.
Pretty typical practice really. Lately I've been trying to focus on my hamstrings alot in my Yin practice to support my Ashtanga practice. I'm hoping that the repeated attention will help me in all those forward fold and especially Supta Kurmasana, which is currently the last pose in my practice and a truly POOR execution thereof if I do say so myself. So I've been trying to do Supta Padangusthasana with a strap every time I do Yin and sometimes before I go to bed too. There's already been palpable effects in my practice and even in my daily life. Just walking around I can feel my legs as being straighter and more limber. Awesome!
I found these slightly distasteful yet very amusing examples of "Drunk Yoga" online so I'll leave you with this for the day:
PS: Those of you in the know will recognize Natasha Rizopoulos from the picture on the left. I start my Teacher Training with her in just a week. YEEEEEEES!
Pretty typical practice really. Lately I've been trying to focus on my hamstrings alot in my Yin practice to support my Ashtanga practice. I'm hoping that the repeated attention will help me in all those forward fold and especially Supta Kurmasana, which is currently the last pose in my practice and a truly POOR execution thereof if I do say so myself. So I've been trying to do Supta Padangusthasana with a strap every time I do Yin and sometimes before I go to bed too. There's already been palpable effects in my practice and even in my daily life. Just walking around I can feel my legs as being straighter and more limber. Awesome!
I found these slightly distasteful yet very amusing examples of "Drunk Yoga" online so I'll leave you with this for the day:
PS: Those of you in the know will recognize Natasha Rizopoulos from the picture on the left. I start my Teacher Training with her in just a week. YEEEEEEES!
Friday, September 4, 2009
Rob - Day 17: Full Moon/Yin
Ah, got to sleep in a little bit this morning as per the full moon. Something I've noticed when I practice at home is that it's much harder to get moving. With Mysore as long as I push myself enough to get out the door it's all smooth sailing from there. When I'm at home its much more of a challenge to get myself to the mat.
So on this particular moon day I told myself that all I had to do was a 1/2 hour of yin and then my commitment for the day would be all set. But man, for some reason in my first pose (Wide Kneed Child's Pose) I felt absorbed into the mat in a state of relaxed bliss. Ahhhhhh. From there I proceeded to do a full 1:15 practice quite happily. And it was quite grand!
Lesson Learned: JUST DO IT! Once you beat the battle to get on the mat it's smooth sailing from there. But I already knew that, didn't I?
Namaste, Om Shanti, etc.!
So on this particular moon day I told myself that all I had to do was a 1/2 hour of yin and then my commitment for the day would be all set. But man, for some reason in my first pose (Wide Kneed Child's Pose) I felt absorbed into the mat in a state of relaxed bliss. Ahhhhhh. From there I proceeded to do a full 1:15 practice quite happily. And it was quite grand!
Lesson Learned: JUST DO IT! Once you beat the battle to get on the mat it's smooth sailing from there. But I already knew that, didn't I?
Namaste, Om Shanti, etc.!
Heather - Days Seven thru Fourteen: Part One
Hey Everyone!!!
It has been too long since I made an entry here, but here is why: I was on vacation and came back just in time to move. So I am not going to try to put in an entry for each day that I was gone, just sum up the experiences I have been having.
RMV Yoga.
You wouldn't think it was possible, but yoga can be done ANYWHERE!!! The story goes a little like this: I rented a car in my name but in order to pick it up, I needed a license. It turns out that not only had mine expired last year (don't really need one in Boston) but I had lost it as well, so I needed to get my driving record from Missouri (where my old license was from). Got all that squared away, double and TRIPLE checked to make sure I had the right list of documents in order to get a license. Got up bright and early Monday morning to do the evil work of waiting at the RMV where they seem to universally take pleasure in making you wait as long as possible to find out that you don't have the right documents even when you double and TRIPLE checked them with the list on the wall. After two hours I discovered this fact first hand. My proof of residence was not acceptable (don't get me started, I followed the wall posting rule to. the. letter.). So the quickest way for me to get what I needed was to register to vote - been there done that, got some paper work to prove it - an hour later I am good! I return to the wretched RMV to take a new number and wait, this time without my wonderful and entertaining boyfriend to keep me company. So it was yoga. Mind you, I was in a dress, so I wasn't doing standing forward folds or wide leg ANYthing. Mostly I was seated on the bench and opening the hips with Yin Yoga pose called square pose. I also found that seated like normal in the chair and bending forward between my own legs is calming like child's pose. Standing backbends work really nicely too to re-open the front body after being seated. But, be warned there are a ton of people, so you don't want to be flailing around creating discomfort for others or drawing too much attention. Mostly at the RMV, it was meditative effort to keep me from screaming at the RMV for killing my first whole day of vacation when I have had only two other days off in the last two months! So to sum up recipe style - here is what I whipped up:
"How NOT to lose your mind at the RMV" Yoga Flow:
1. Begin with a comfortable seated posture: in a chair, or perhaps against a wall. Close your eyes (but not your ears so that you don't miss your number being called). Breath and try to center your attention on where your body is coming into contact with the chair, floor, wall, etc, etc. Be there for a few minutes, really allow your focus to come inward - allowing all other sounds and movements to become periphery. Don't shut anything out, but maybe let it become part of the background of your present experience. Once you feel truly grounded you can allow your eyes to open, but keep your focus soft and low.
Remember, no matter how sucky it is for you to be stuck at the RMV, everyone else feels just as annoyed, anxious, frustrated, and is just as busy with the other demands of their lives - including the RMV employees. If you can bring some peace to your own mind, then you will be like a drop in the proverbial pond and a tiny bit of that peace will move like a subtle wave through the crowd. Perhaps VERY subtley, but peace nonetheless. =)
2. Then move into square pose (for not-so-flexible people try simple cross legged, right leg in front first. for REALLY flexible people, you could also try half or full lotus - but only if you know what you are doing): Right leg on top first and fold forward. Stay for at least five minutes - you don't have to fold deeply let it be a natural, gravitational fold - don't muscle your cold body into some deep forward fold. If you have room twist to the left. Once that is done switch sides and repeat the same sequence. If you feel this in either knee at any time, DO NOT PROCEED. Knee sensation is NEVER good. Don't forget to breathe!
3A. If you are on a chair, uncross your legs, open them as wide as the chair will allow and fold yourself - at the hip - over your legs. Really allow your body to come to rest as deeply as possible without using muscle to force it. Nod and shake your head around gently to make sure that your neck is relaxed. Stay there for awhile, like I said, I find this to be very soothing. Don't forget to breathe!
3B. If you are on the floor, come to child's pose if there is room, but be sure to rest your head on the backs of your hands rather than the floor for obvious reasons. Don't forget to breathe!
3C. If there is not that kind of room, stand up and bend over for an easy rag doll - keeping your knees as bent as you like them. This should NOT be a muscled hamstring stretch. Just let your body come forward as nature allows - be kind to yourself as the RMV never will be! =P Release your neck like mentioned above. Don't stay here more than a couple of minutes though, you need blood all the way through your body. Don't forget to breathe!
In any of the last three poses, when done, roll up slowly vertabrae by vertabrae on an inhale.
4. Once that is finished move back to upright If you are not already standing, come to standing. Set your feet somewhere between three inches and hips width apart - whatever makes you feel solid and grounded. Bring your attention into your feet. (Take your shoes off if you can or if you dare!) Really try to feel for the four corners of your feet. Get solid, grounded, rooted then do a mental scan up through your feet. Feel energy moving the up the insides of your ankles, shins, knees, thighs, through your pelvic root to your tailbone. As you move through the awareness of your spine, begin to feel the energy lifting, stacking each vertabrae on top of the one below it, allow your body to shift as you breathe and maintain awareness. Feel your spine gently lift and even straighten a bit as your tailbone drops, your shoulder blades fall down your back and your chin drops. Don't forget to breathe!
5. Once you come to that relaxed and "dignified posture," you can work towards a small, standing backbend. Place your hands just below the small of your back - the back of your hips, really, or just above the butt. Now, from here, still grounding into your feet and engaging your legs, use your hands to keep your lower back long and stretch up (not back). Really work toward a sense of pulling out of your hips and reaching for the ceiling with your heart (not your shoulders). We aren't going for a deep back bend here, just something that opens the heart and gives the ribs some space. So on the first try don't bend back, just lift and feel into your body. Do this two or three times for three to five full rounds of breath. Each time you may work into a slightly deeper back bend, but not by sacrificing the length in your lower back. Engage your abdominals! Don't forget to breathe!
6. Carefully come up to straight on an inhale then take some sort of gentle forward fold: rag doll with knees strongly bent, child's pose, or seated in a chair and folding from the hips. Once there, take three full, deep inhales into your lower back. Use your air to expand just that area. Then you can return to normal breathing.
Don't forget to breathe!
7. When you are ready come back to upright whether standing or sitting and come to some sort of supported seated if possible, or at least lean against a wall while standing. Find a way to bring as much of a svasana like feel to your mind and body as possible. Give yourself a face massage, rub out your neck, do some shoulder rolls, give yourself a hand massage. Something I love is to draw - ever so lightly - long lines with one fingernail over the surface of the inside of my lower arm. It is a light, pleasing tickle that can be very soothing - at least to me! Or maybe sit or stand in meditation with your eyes mostly or completely closed. Whatever you do, remain aware of the numbers being called out - don't miss your long awaited turn!!!
****Words of Advice for this type of practice****
-Remember to stay aware. You need to respect the limited space of those around you. You also need to not get so zen that you don't here or see your number called out.
-Use your cell phone or watch to time your poses. Don't just think you will know how long to stay in a pose. The anxious energy around you and perhaps within you will make time seem much longer. Your mind and body deserve the time!
-If people talk to you, be as friendly as you wish. Tell them what you are doing, invite them to join, or if you don't feel so extroverted, be politely short.
-Shutting out any aspect of your experience of the present moment closes you off to what is actually happening in your life in the now. There are no distractions in this practice: the poses, the breathing, the body scanning, the smells, sounds, thoughts, judgements, interactions, etc. All is included in your life right now. Include it. Observe it. Embrace it!
Wishing you happiness and mettA from a little dot in the universe called Boston,
Heather
PS. Stay tuned for Car Yoga! I had two thirteen hour and two nine hour drives to get to and from Iowa last week and the stuff I discovered to be car and seatbelt friendly will blow your mind!!!
It has been too long since I made an entry here, but here is why: I was on vacation and came back just in time to move. So I am not going to try to put in an entry for each day that I was gone, just sum up the experiences I have been having.
RMV Yoga.
You wouldn't think it was possible, but yoga can be done ANYWHERE!!! The story goes a little like this: I rented a car in my name but in order to pick it up, I needed a license. It turns out that not only had mine expired last year (don't really need one in Boston) but I had lost it as well, so I needed to get my driving record from Missouri (where my old license was from). Got all that squared away, double and TRIPLE checked to make sure I had the right list of documents in order to get a license. Got up bright and early Monday morning to do the evil work of waiting at the RMV where they seem to universally take pleasure in making you wait as long as possible to find out that you don't have the right documents even when you double and TRIPLE checked them with the list on the wall. After two hours I discovered this fact first hand. My proof of residence was not acceptable (don't get me started, I followed the wall posting rule to. the. letter.). So the quickest way for me to get what I needed was to register to vote - been there done that, got some paper work to prove it - an hour later I am good! I return to the wretched RMV to take a new number and wait, this time without my wonderful and entertaining boyfriend to keep me company. So it was yoga. Mind you, I was in a dress, so I wasn't doing standing forward folds or wide leg ANYthing. Mostly I was seated on the bench and opening the hips with Yin Yoga pose called square pose. I also found that seated like normal in the chair and bending forward between my own legs is calming like child's pose. Standing backbends work really nicely too to re-open the front body after being seated. But, be warned there are a ton of people, so you don't want to be flailing around creating discomfort for others or drawing too much attention. Mostly at the RMV, it was meditative effort to keep me from screaming at the RMV for killing my first whole day of vacation when I have had only two other days off in the last two months! So to sum up recipe style - here is what I whipped up:
"How NOT to lose your mind at the RMV" Yoga Flow:
1. Begin with a comfortable seated posture: in a chair, or perhaps against a wall. Close your eyes (but not your ears so that you don't miss your number being called). Breath and try to center your attention on where your body is coming into contact with the chair, floor, wall, etc, etc. Be there for a few minutes, really allow your focus to come inward - allowing all other sounds and movements to become periphery. Don't shut anything out, but maybe let it become part of the background of your present experience. Once you feel truly grounded you can allow your eyes to open, but keep your focus soft and low.
Remember, no matter how sucky it is for you to be stuck at the RMV, everyone else feels just as annoyed, anxious, frustrated, and is just as busy with the other demands of their lives - including the RMV employees. If you can bring some peace to your own mind, then you will be like a drop in the proverbial pond and a tiny bit of that peace will move like a subtle wave through the crowd. Perhaps VERY subtley, but peace nonetheless. =)
2. Then move into square pose (for not-so-flexible people try simple cross legged, right leg in front first. for REALLY flexible people, you could also try half or full lotus - but only if you know what you are doing): Right leg on top first and fold forward. Stay for at least five minutes - you don't have to fold deeply let it be a natural, gravitational fold - don't muscle your cold body into some deep forward fold. If you have room twist to the left. Once that is done switch sides and repeat the same sequence. If you feel this in either knee at any time, DO NOT PROCEED. Knee sensation is NEVER good. Don't forget to breathe!
3A. If you are on a chair, uncross your legs, open them as wide as the chair will allow and fold yourself - at the hip - over your legs. Really allow your body to come to rest as deeply as possible without using muscle to force it. Nod and shake your head around gently to make sure that your neck is relaxed. Stay there for awhile, like I said, I find this to be very soothing. Don't forget to breathe!
3B. If you are on the floor, come to child's pose if there is room, but be sure to rest your head on the backs of your hands rather than the floor for obvious reasons. Don't forget to breathe!
3C. If there is not that kind of room, stand up and bend over for an easy rag doll - keeping your knees as bent as you like them. This should NOT be a muscled hamstring stretch. Just let your body come forward as nature allows - be kind to yourself as the RMV never will be! =P Release your neck like mentioned above. Don't stay here more than a couple of minutes though, you need blood all the way through your body. Don't forget to breathe!
In any of the last three poses, when done, roll up slowly vertabrae by vertabrae on an inhale.
4. Once that is finished move back to upright If you are not already standing, come to standing. Set your feet somewhere between three inches and hips width apart - whatever makes you feel solid and grounded. Bring your attention into your feet. (Take your shoes off if you can or if you dare!) Really try to feel for the four corners of your feet. Get solid, grounded, rooted then do a mental scan up through your feet. Feel energy moving the up the insides of your ankles, shins, knees, thighs, through your pelvic root to your tailbone. As you move through the awareness of your spine, begin to feel the energy lifting, stacking each vertabrae on top of the one below it, allow your body to shift as you breathe and maintain awareness. Feel your spine gently lift and even straighten a bit as your tailbone drops, your shoulder blades fall down your back and your chin drops. Don't forget to breathe!
5. Once you come to that relaxed and "dignified posture," you can work towards a small, standing backbend. Place your hands just below the small of your back - the back of your hips, really, or just above the butt. Now, from here, still grounding into your feet and engaging your legs, use your hands to keep your lower back long and stretch up (not back). Really work toward a sense of pulling out of your hips and reaching for the ceiling with your heart (not your shoulders). We aren't going for a deep back bend here, just something that opens the heart and gives the ribs some space. So on the first try don't bend back, just lift and feel into your body. Do this two or three times for three to five full rounds of breath. Each time you may work into a slightly deeper back bend, but not by sacrificing the length in your lower back. Engage your abdominals! Don't forget to breathe!
6. Carefully come up to straight on an inhale then take some sort of gentle forward fold: rag doll with knees strongly bent, child's pose, or seated in a chair and folding from the hips. Once there, take three full, deep inhales into your lower back. Use your air to expand just that area. Then you can return to normal breathing.
Don't forget to breathe!
7. When you are ready come back to upright whether standing or sitting and come to some sort of supported seated if possible, or at least lean against a wall while standing. Find a way to bring as much of a svasana like feel to your mind and body as possible. Give yourself a face massage, rub out your neck, do some shoulder rolls, give yourself a hand massage. Something I love is to draw - ever so lightly - long lines with one fingernail over the surface of the inside of my lower arm. It is a light, pleasing tickle that can be very soothing - at least to me! Or maybe sit or stand in meditation with your eyes mostly or completely closed. Whatever you do, remain aware of the numbers being called out - don't miss your long awaited turn!!!
****Words of Advice for this type of practice****
-Remember to stay aware. You need to respect the limited space of those around you. You also need to not get so zen that you don't here or see your number called out.
-Use your cell phone or watch to time your poses. Don't just think you will know how long to stay in a pose. The anxious energy around you and perhaps within you will make time seem much longer. Your mind and body deserve the time!
-If people talk to you, be as friendly as you wish. Tell them what you are doing, invite them to join, or if you don't feel so extroverted, be politely short.
-Shutting out any aspect of your experience of the present moment closes you off to what is actually happening in your life in the now. There are no distractions in this practice: the poses, the breathing, the body scanning, the smells, sounds, thoughts, judgements, interactions, etc. All is included in your life right now. Include it. Observe it. Embrace it!
Wishing you happiness and mettA from a little dot in the universe called Boston,
Heather
PS. Stay tuned for Car Yoga! I had two thirteen hour and two nine hour drives to get to and from Iowa last week and the stuff I discovered to be car and seatbelt friendly will blow your mind!!!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Rob -Day 17: OOOPS! I did it again.
Okay, so maybe it's time to be a bit more realistic about this whole process.
Yesterday, as last Thursday I was busy from 5:30am-9pm. And of course this left me with little to no time to practice. Sure I could have busted out a few poses before I went to bed but that was really the last thing I wanted to do at that point. I really feel as part of this process that quality is as important as quantity. Frankly I don't don't feel like (as David Swenson would say) just "making an asana out of myself." Maybe I should make Thursdays an optional day of rest? My schedule's so busy those days that that may be a good option. Of course I'll make my best effort but sometimes it just might not be possible. At least I know that this is happening out of a literal lack of time and not any lack of discipline on my part. I guess that's all I can really hope for!
I'd love to hear if you guys have any thoughts or suggestions on the matter.
Namaste, Om Shanti, etc.!
Yesterday, as last Thursday I was busy from 5:30am-9pm. And of course this left me with little to no time to practice. Sure I could have busted out a few poses before I went to bed but that was really the last thing I wanted to do at that point. I really feel as part of this process that quality is as important as quantity. Frankly I don't don't feel like (as David Swenson would say) just "making an asana out of myself." Maybe I should make Thursdays an optional day of rest? My schedule's so busy those days that that may be a good option. Of course I'll make my best effort but sometimes it just might not be possible. At least I know that this is happening out of a literal lack of time and not any lack of discipline on my part. I guess that's all I can really hope for!
I'd love to hear if you guys have any thoughts or suggestions on the matter.
Namaste, Om Shanti, etc.!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Rob - Fear Not Blogosphere - I'm Still Here! - Day 16 - Mysore
Hello World! I will confess that I have been neglecting this blog for the past week or so, but fear not! My practice has remained...well...for the most part. Last Thursday I was busy from 4:30am to 9:30pm and was unable to practice. I figure this is a worthy excuse so rather than beat myself up I just hit the mat the next morning. I've skipped that day on my day counter for accuracies sake.
I don't think it will be of benefit to backlog the days so long after the fact so I'll just pick up again with today. A quick aside though. It's been over two weeks! Holy cow! (I don't normally use this expression but somehow it seems a bit yogic, yes?) I'm definitely feeling the benefits of consistency each day in my mind, body and spirit. I have more energy and more equanimity with what the world tosses at me. This is really important since I've just started a new full-time, much higher stress job (the reason I haven't posted in so long). I'm really glad I've made this commitment at such a transitional time in my life. I'm finding it immensely helpful thus far.
I made it to Mysore practice this morning feeling more limber than ever. As I've dove into my practice I can feel the opening in my body, even if it does come with some soreness and the occasional tiredness. Today as I was jumping though and around I felt really light and graceful. I'm also noticing that I am aware of more parts of my body than I used to be. For example in utthita hasta padangusthasana I no longer focus on the stretch in the extended leg but instead focus on the grounded leg. It feels almost as if my leg is attached directly into the floor. Pretty cool stuff if you ask me!
This journey is already about 5% underway and already I'm feeling amazing effects in my practice and life. Lord only knows where I'll be when I reach 100%. Also, starting next weekend I'll be throwing a little gasoline on the fires of my practice. I'm starting a 200 Hour YogaWorks Teacher Training with Natasha Rizopoulos. Needless to say this will definitely make the experiment more interesting!
Also, I found this awesome article on Huffington Post about the history of Asana. It's likely to be a bit of an eye opener for some of the yoga snobs out there:
I don't think it will be of benefit to backlog the days so long after the fact so I'll just pick up again with today. A quick aside though. It's been over two weeks! Holy cow! (I don't normally use this expression but somehow it seems a bit yogic, yes?) I'm definitely feeling the benefits of consistency each day in my mind, body and spirit. I have more energy and more equanimity with what the world tosses at me. This is really important since I've just started a new full-time, much higher stress job (the reason I haven't posted in so long). I'm really glad I've made this commitment at such a transitional time in my life. I'm finding it immensely helpful thus far.
I made it to Mysore practice this morning feeling more limber than ever. As I've dove into my practice I can feel the opening in my body, even if it does come with some soreness and the occasional tiredness. Today as I was jumping though and around I felt really light and graceful. I'm also noticing that I am aware of more parts of my body than I used to be. For example in utthita hasta padangusthasana I no longer focus on the stretch in the extended leg but instead focus on the grounded leg. It feels almost as if my leg is attached directly into the floor. Pretty cool stuff if you ask me!
This journey is already about 5% underway and already I'm feeling amazing effects in my practice and life. Lord only knows where I'll be when I reach 100%. Also, starting next weekend I'll be throwing a little gasoline on the fires of my practice. I'm starting a 200 Hour YogaWorks Teacher Training with Natasha Rizopoulos. Needless to say this will definitely make the experiment more interesting!
Also, I found this awesome article on Huffington Post about the history of Asana. It's likely to be a bit of an eye opener for some of the yoga snobs out there:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sadie-nardini/your-yoga-poses-arent-500_b_272821.html
Namaste, Om Shanti, Etc.!
Namaste, Om Shanti, Etc.!
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