Soft Vinyasa: Swadyaya and surrender. 7.26.12

We studied the self through movement, breath and mantra, with concentration on an open heart to help assist in surrendering our findings.

windshield wiper with length

supine hamstring stretch with study of spicy feelings

supine uttitha pada gustasana series
rest

other side

supine YAM

watery sukasana side bending
OM

malasana

uttanasana

uttithatadasana side bending
uttithatadasana
tadasana
VAM

apanasana step up on bricks

tadasana
LAM

lunge
twisted lunge
hammock
warrior II dance
vinyasa with sphinx/seal
balasana
downdog
other side

vinyasa with baby cobra, locust, and locust variation

second heart study (gomukasana variation), Betsy Stix style
paschimotadasaan

bridge x 2

eye of the needle
twisted root
rest
other side

savasana

sit
OM
Namaste

Soft Vinyasa: Kidneys and inner kindness: 7.24.12

Inspired by my recent discovery of a feeling of freedom in my kidneys and adrenals, this was the region of focus for our practice, alongside aspects of the texts including the taoist cycle of creativity, sutra 1.12, sutra 1.2, the feeling tone of steady attention towards the inner central channel of the sushumna and asmita, and releasing the grip of aprarigrapha.  Our play today was subtle, and I'm forever grateful for these teachings handed down by Kira at Lulu's at our recent teacher training.

Windshield wiper

Eye of the needle

Alternate nostril breathing in supine
OM

Sukasana side bending

Malassna
Uttanasana
Tadasana

Shouldr rolls and shrugs

Shoulder opener w strap
uttanasana variation


tadasana
YAM

lunge
side angle prep
triangle
extended side angle
lunge variation
pigeon variation
mermaid prep
pyramid
twisted lunge

vinyasa with sphinx and seal play
crocodile
reverse windshield wiper

downdog
other side standing sequence

vinyasa with locust and locust variation

balasana

seated twist

bridge
twisted root with rest

supported savasana

sit
OM
Namaste

Soft Vinyasa: connecting to the love that moves the sun and the other stars. 7.12.12

To borrow from Dante's poem, we endeavored to connect to the same love that moves the sun and the other stars. We stayed in the subtle realm more than most days and had help from the gentle rain that graced Ojai this morning.

fluid circles of leisure in sukasana
sit
So Hum a la Ravi style

Gratitude meditation
OM

seaweed float in sukasana

paschimotadasana

seated foot massage

cat
cow
balasana
sphinx/seal
crocodile

balasana variation

plank
downdog
uttanasana
 tadasana with side bending
uttanasana variation
tadasana
YAM

standing neck stretches 

tadasana
lunge
twisted lunge
hammock
warrior II dance
low crescent
three leg dog
downdog
other side

rolling  and transitioning to supine

windshield wiper

bridge
eye of the needle
twist

texas star

other side
OM

supported savasana

sit
OM
Namaste

Soft Vinyasa. Shiva the Transformer. 7.10.12

We played with the idea of transformation as the continual effort to turn the will over to the heart. Ravi shared that the true viragia (surrender) is disentanglement from asmita. We used the feet (motor organ of the will) and the hands (motor organ of the heart) to help embody the feeling tones.

sit
So Hum meditation with Ravi's style hum body meditation

gratitude meditation
OM

cat
cow
balasana
puppy dog

easy side plank

balasana variation

plank
downdog

uttantanasana
uttithatadasana
uttanasana variation
tadasana
YAM

lunge
twisted lunge
hammock
warrior II dance
low crescent
three leg dog

vinyasa with baby cobra and locust

other side with squirt pose in hammock

vinyasa with locust variation

shoulder opener on earth
sphinx
other side
sphinx/seal

crocodile

all fours
downdog
uttanasana
malasana
uttanasana
tadasana

dancing shiva balance play (also known as standing bow in some circles)

navasana play x2

windshield wiper

eye of the needle
twist
other side

savasana

sit
OM
Namaste

Ahh, the relief from Asmita. Soft Vinyasa. 7.7.12

Fresh from the Montana retreat with Kira and Ravi, I became interested in looking closer than ever. I've noticed the strong pull of asmita holding me back from taking an important leap in my own life. Naturally, asmita is of keen interest to me and became the topic of our gentle movement practice today. Sit So Hum meditation a la Ravi style rest gratitude meditation OM cat cow balasana puppy dog easy side plank balasana variation plank downdog uttanasana tadasana uttitha tadasana tadasana YAM 1/4 sun salutes tadasana lunge twist hammock warrior II dance low crescent vinyasa with baby cobra and locust variation balasana three leg dog other side standing sequence vinyasa with locust variation x2 balasana eagle arms in virasana (or sukasana) navasana x2 easy side bending in sukasana bridge x2 eye of the needle twisted root rest other side twisted root savasana sit OM Namaste