Prototypes Women's Center. Oooh! Aahhh! and Ow. 8.8.11

We had a group today all new at Prototypes, first time to yoga ever in life, and all new faces to me. Our only introduction had been our group class together just previous to yoga on 'Brain, Addiction, and Recovery", where the jist of our lesson was the suggestion that our thoughts really do matter. It was an interesting session in many ways, one of which is that for some reason a rather instant rapport had been established. This made my job teaching yoga much easier that just going in cold.

One of my greatest joys in life is working with beginners, especially brand new ones, and especially those who are in early recovery. There is almost nothing finer than witnessing the first steps of exploring the internal space. There is an immediacy in each and every 'Oooh, Ahhh, and even the occasional ow, that are cues for intimate sharing of the teachings of yoga, especially as it relates to recovery from self destructive behaviors.

These classes are anything but quiet. Comments and questions arise from their bodies and right out of their mouths. As long as it is relevant and on topic, I even encourage verbalization of their experience. Part of teaching here at Prototypes is about holding a safe space and practice, listening with all the senses, while simulaneously having boundaries and discipline. The chatter quiets down about 30 minutues into our practice, and eventually the room grows silent and we all move and breath and do our own work together breath by breath. Its one of the most interesting experiences of my whole life and I am filled with gratitude each and every time I get to be with these women.



Supine
Yogi scientist experiment with 3 positions of the legs.

Windshield wiper

Eye of the needle
Rest
Other side

Sukasana side bending

Sukasana with yogi scientist experiment with 2 hand positions

Tadasana

Warrior 11 dance
Warrior 11
Tadasana
Other side

uttanasana
malasana

Windshield wiper

Bridge

Easy spine twist

Sit
Namaste