Prototypes Women's Center. Freedom from the Small Self: 4.29.12

We used the Yamas as alignment ideas to help untether from the small self.

"Freedom not for myself, Freedom from myself"
discussion and diagram of wholeness

Einstein "You cannot solve a problem from the same consciousness that created it"
discussion, particularly as it relates to addiction and recovery

Presentation and discussion of Yamas (Patajali's Yoga Sutras 3.0)
discussion and living examples

questions and comments

Namaste!

vinyasa Basics: Water and Wonder: 4.24.12

We connected to the sacrum and its element of water, then let yajna (sacrifice) feel fluid and wonderous. 

Patricia Sullivan tipped chair
Ssssss brahamari
OM

Eye at wall
Supine uttithatadasana with shoulder openers

Sukasana side bend
Watery sukasana side bend

Cat cow
Barrell roll

Plank
Downdog

Uttanasana
Uttithatadasana
Tadasana

YAM

Lunge
Hammock
Low crescent
Tadasana
LAM
Other side

Downdog
Plank
Baby cobra
Locust
Balasana

Plank
Tadasana
Yam
Lunge
Dude angle
Trikonasana
Pigeon

Vinyasa with cobra, locust and locust variation

Other side

From vinyasa 
Supine
Windshield wiper
Bridge
Cosmic rest post

Twisted root

Savasana

Sit
OM
Namaste

Prototypes Women's Center: Koshas, Levels, and Consicousness: 4.23.12

Our first hour together was a discussion of levels of consciousness, and the second hour we offered some asana and breathing techniques to help drive the teachings deeper.

First hour:
Introduction with name and "one thing you like about recovery'. Discussion of the many levels of experience..from 'I feel better in the mornings to I feel more connected to God'.

There is the expression "that was deep". What does that mean?
There is an expression "he's shallow", or "at the surface it appears..." What does this mean?
Discussion of how these different levels actually feel. We located a deeper feeling within (and established a buy-in of the level theory)

Discussion of idea of levels
Discussion of koshas

Unpacking of manosmaya kosha and vjanamaya kosha, and huge cosmic forces.

Applied lessons to recovery work.

Second Hour:

windshield wiper

eye of the needle
discussion of how it feels

sukasana side bending
sukasana watery bending flow
discussion of how it feels

tadasana
uttanasana with hamstring stretch
side bending with breath
uttanasana variation
tadasana

swamp monster
halleluja

neck stretches

seated alternate nostril breathing moving awareness
discussion

Namaste.

Ravi Ravindra has spoken repeatedly about the techniques of yoga as a preparation for the teachings to land. We played practicing Aham Brahma and So Ham, and allowed feeling tones such as wonderment, delight, suprise, and curiosity to allow for a soft landing. sit heart meditation OM eye of the needle cat cow barrell roll plank downdog sphinx easy side plank plank downdog uttitathadasna with side stretch tadasana YAM rock and roll a la Casey Murphy tadasana YAM lunge hammock low crescent tadasana other side with hammock and low crescent variations plank baby cobra locust balasana tadasana guitar hero shoulder openers with strap uttasana variation with strap tadasana YAM lunge hammock warrior II dance pigeon vinyasa with locust variation other side lunge, hammock, warrior II dance and pigeon vinyasa roll to supine bridge cosmic rest twisted root savasana prep with 'shiffman pause' meditation savasana sit OM x3 Namaste

Support from Within: Prototypes Women's Center. 4.16.12

What does it feel like to rest into the couch? Used sitting to ask what support feels like to connect to the feeling tone of support. Words like, relaxed, safe, smooth, easy..., and noting these are feelings that rose up from within (not that the teacher tells them how support should feel)

what are other ways you are supported? Being with family, children, listening to music, warm bubble bath, hot tea...
we began to connect the feeling tone to real world actions support

Partner exercise..sitting back to back to connect to support.
discussion of tension as a way to feel supported, and asking what part of tension in our lives can we begin to let go of.

discussion of becoming comfortable in the unknown, turning it over...etc

told real world story of boat turning around to St. Thomas, but connected with Stevie Wonder!
discussion of the value of wonder and surprise in our lives, and not knowing it all

listing ways in our own lives where it 'seemed' like something 'bad' happened, and it turned out OK. (Many talked about even going to jail and getting sober.)

Vinyasa Basics: Preparation. 4.17.12

I have been inspired in many ways by Ravi Ravindra. His class on the Rig Veda recently coincided with interest in preparation sparked in his book, The Spiritual Roots of Yoga. Today be began our discussion of this fertile ground...

sit
Heart movement meditation
OM

cat
cow
barrel roll
balasana
puppy dog

plank
downdog

easy side plank

plank
dowdog

sphinx

driveby downdog to uttanasana

leaning tadasana
uttithatadasana
tadasana

shoulder shrugs
uttanasana variation

rock and rolls (thank you Casey Murphy)

tadasana

guitar hero

tadasana
lunge
hammock
low crescent
tadasana
other side
vinyasa with baby cobra and locust variation
balasana

plank
downdog
uttanasana
cowboy negociation w open heart

uttanasana
tadasana
LAM

lunge
warrior I
eagle arms
eagle
vinyasa with baby cobra and locust variation

tadasana
other side

from vinyasa roll supine

eye of the needle
twist
rest
other side

savasana

sit
OM
Namaste