Vinyasa Basics: The dance of chitta. 10.25.11

Relaxing the mind by losening the grip in the heart.

ajna rest on bricks
OM

cat/cow

easy side plank

sphinx
reverse windshield wiper

balasana

plank
downdog

uttanasana

malasana with cowboy negociation

uttanasana
uttitha tadasana
tadasana
YAM

shoulder shrugs
shoulder rolls
uttanasana variation

lunge
low crescent
other side

baby cobra
locust
locust variation

balasana

plank
dowdog
utkatasana
tadasana

lunge
hammock
horse
warrior II dance
side angle prep
trikonasana
bound angle
pigeon variation

three leg dog

vinyasa
other side

texas star

bridge x2
gratitude meditation

twisted root

savasana

sit
OM
Namaste

Yoga: Relationship.10.24.11

What does yoga mean? Most people said exercise, stretching, and other descriptions of physical exercise. Then we talked about the root of the word Yoga, yuj, as connection. Connection to others and to ourselves.

To explore connection to others we did partner work. In the beginning there was a lot of hesitation, but after the initial exercise and some discussion, the group become more receptive and it turned out to be a lot of fun.

Partner forward fold/backbend
discussion. Many concepts came to light..support, leaning in on a friend, what one person does causes movement in another, learning to say 'stop',
second set to bake in the discussion

Partner upavista konasana forward fold/backbend

Partner Dancing Shiva

Cali breath play (Tibetian monk warming breath)

Partner seated twist

Then we explored relationship with ourselves

windshield wiper

bridge

eye of the needle

easy spine twist

savasana

sit
circle
What is yoga? (Still a few responses of 'exercise'..but some acknowledged relationship). For sure more room for exploration as a teacher here!

Vinyasa Basics: Krishna Heart. 10.18.11

Subtle class today. We played into feeling the expansion of the 'small' and touching the spaciousness of what the Bhagavad Gita refers to as 'Krishna' which is seated in the heart. Used techniques of dharana, I'm learning how to talk about this.


Thought it was going to be about ardha chandrasana but it didn't really turn out that way.

Windshield wiper
mapping sit bones
mapping roll of pelvis

padagustasana with strap at wall

uttithatadasana at wall
OM

cat cow exploration

easy side plank

balasana

sphinx

plank
downdog
uttanasana

uttithatadasana
tadasana
YAM

lunge salutes
lunge salutes with low crescent

baby cobra
locust
locust variation

balasana

plank
downdog

shoulder shrugs

wall splat
wall dog
wall warrior III
supported uttanasana at wall

wall ardha chandrasana

uttanasana

windshield wiper

bridge x2

eye of needle
twisted root
other side
OM

supported savasana

sit
OM
Namaste

Yoga Blue: Buddha Brain. 10.15.11

We endeavored to cultivate peace within, with a primary focus on chitta as heart-mind.

supported reclining Buddha

sukasana
OM

cat/cow release

easy side plank

balasana

sphinx/seal

plank
downdog
uttanasana
tadasana

shoulder shrugs
shoulder rolls
swamp monster and halleluja
tadasana
YAM

lunge
hammock
twisted lunge
low crescent
other side

baby cobra
locust
locust variation
balasana

vasistasana play


downdog
uttanasana
tadasana
YAM

lunge
warrior I
eagle arms
eagle
warrior III
standing splits
lunge
side plank

vinyasa with baby cobra and locust

balasana
plank
downdog
uttansana
tadasana

YAM
other side

vinyasa with locust variation and bow

roll to backs
windshield wiper

eye of the needle

(wanted to have restorative heart opener over bolster but ran out of time)

savasana

sit
OM
Namaste!

Vinyasa Basics: Befriending the Unknown. 10.11.11

We used handstand to play with aparigrapha, abinnivesha, and a sense of adventure into the unknown. It was a trip to the unknown even for me, as I've never attempted teaching handstand (always been afraid of 'failure'). It was fun to be in the sauce of the unknown together!

sukasana spine rolls

aparigrapha meditation
OM

easy side plank
balasana

sphinx
windshield wiper

table top
plank
downdog

uttanasana with neck rolls

cowboy negociation

uttithatadasana
tadasana
YAM

lunge salute with low crescent and hamstring stretch

cobra
cobra variation
balasana

table top
plank
downdog

uttanasana variation

tadasana
uttithatadasana with upside down handstand play

heart tapping with hands to heart connection
YAM

wall splata
wall dog
wall warrior III
wall uttanasana

half hanstand at wall
balasana

handstand play facing wall

windshield wiper

eye of the needle

supported spinal twist on bolster

supported savasana

sit
OM
Namaste!

Yoga Blue: Headstand/Chitta-stand. 10.1.11

We used aparigrapha to play into going upside down. Sutra 1.2 Chitta as Heart Mind.

ajna rest on bricks
other side

cat
cow

barrell roll

balasana
sphinx
reverse windshield wiper

balasana

even cowgirls get the blues dolphin pose

plank
downdog

uttanasnaa

cowboy negociation

uttansana
uttitha tadasana
tadasana

shoulder shrugs

guitar hero

tadasana
YAM

lunge salutes with bricks

tadasana
HAM

shirsasana/tadasana

lunge salutes with low crescent

downdog
plank

baby cobra
locust
locust variation

balasana

three brick headstand prep

three brick headstand option

balasana

eye of the needle

easy spine twist

supported heart opener over bolster

savasana

sit
OM
Namaste