Sweet Vinyasa: you are love: 12.26.12

We did our best to find what happens when we release habitual patterns of tension. The alignment that comes into view is that of love.

windshield wiper

supine pada gustasana with strip using strap

cat/cow/barrel roll

easy side plank with inner thigh stretch and flying dog

plank
downdog
uttanasana with twist

uttithatadasana
tadasana with shoulder rolls
uttanasna variation
uttithatadasana
tadasana

lunge
twisted lunge
hammock
warrior II dance
low crescent with hamstring stretch
vinyasa with baby cobra and locust
other side

downdog

side plank play

puppy dog

baddha konasana

reclining buddha with shoulder opener

restorative heart opener over bolster/savasana

sit
OM
Namaste

Sweet Vinyasa: A Piece of Quiet: 12.24.12

A gentle practice today to remember the satisfying joy of peace and quiet.

Kneeling on bricks
OM
A
O
M
OM x3

cat/cow
dancing reindeer

easy side plank

plank
downdog play
downdog

uttanasana
twist
uttithatadasana
tadasana
OM
YAM

lunge
twisted lunge
hammock
warrior II dance
low crescent
uttanasana
tadasana
other side

downdog
baby cobra
locust
balasana

plank
side plank play

uttanasana
tadasana

tree

uttanasana
malasana
baddha konasana

reclining Buddha

bridge

twisted root

savasana

sit
OM
Namaste!

Sweet Vinyasa: Love and Longchempa: 12.17.12

We cultivated our ability to widen/broaded/deepen/expand our view to assist us in our seeing. We leaned in on Erich Schiffmann's definintion of love as "the willingness to recognize that which is real", on Ravi Ravindra's comment "seeing is the key ingredient in love" and Longchempa's view of our "precious body as a unique occasion at the right juncture".

windshield wiper

supine stretch
rest
OM

supine pada gustasana and twist with strap

sukasana side bending

malasnaa
uttanasana
uttithatadasana
tadasana

YAM

lunge
twisted lunge
hammock
triangle
side angle
pigeon variation
three leg dog
plank
baby cobra
locust
locust variation
plank
barrel roll
downdog
other side with skandasana

baby cobra
locust variation

supine shoulder opener
cobra
other side

balasana

camel play

twisted root

savasana

sit
OM
Namaste

Sweet Vinyasa: practicing peace and quiet. 12.19.12

We practiced aligning with peace and quiet as a way to cultivate inner joy. One of the inspirations for this practice is the Christmas Carol "Joy to the World", specifically the line, 'let every heart, prepare Him room".

on bricks
OM
A
O
M
OM x3

cat/cow/barrel roll
dancing reindeer

balasana
puppy dog

easy side plank
side twist
other side

plank
downdog

uttanasana
uttithatadasana
tadasana
uttanasana variation
tadasana variation
tadasana

lunge
twisted lunge
hammock
warrior II dance
pigeon variation
three leg dog
downdog
plank
baby cobra
locust
locust variation
plank
downdog
other side with skandasana play and chinese splits

vinyasa with locust variation

tadasana with balancing breath play

uttanasana
malasana

navasana play

bridge
supported bridge

twisted root

savasana

sit
OM
Namaste

Sweet Vinyasa: Willing to See: 12.12.12

Erich Shiffmann's working definition of love is  'Willingness to recognize that which is real". Avidya, according to the yogis, is our main ingredient in suffering. We played in the space of courage and willingness to look closer. We practice this a lot because it is a continual effort, an today we emphasized the simplicity of this lesson more than normal with a backdrop of easy asana, breathing and the seed sound mantras of YAM and OM.

windshield wiper

eye of the needle
half happy baby

cat/cow/barrell
balasana
OM

easy side plank
twisted half dog
other side

balasana variation with toe torture option

plank
downdog play

uttanasana
uttithatadasana
tadasana variation with heart opener
uttanasana variation
uttithatadasana
tadasana with centering pose
YAM

lunge
warrior I dance
pyramid
three leg dog
baby cobra
locust
other side
baby cobra
swimming cobra
plank
downdog

tadasana with sama breath play

dancer's pose

uttanasana
malasana
baddha konasana

centering easy navasana

bridge

twisted root

settling choice

savasana

sit
OM
Namaste meditation
Namaste

Sweet Vinyasa: Enjoy the view: 12.10.12

Fresh off a 4 day workshop with Erich Shiffmann the freshest information bubbling up is a practice that supports enjoying the view of yourself. This takes practice, practice, practice, and then more practice (abhyasa).

We moved, breathed and mantra-ed to cultivate a relaxing of our habitual avidya.

windshield wiper

eye of the needle
half happy baby with lunge option
other side

cat/cow
balasana

easy side plank
half dog twist
other side

balasana
balasana variation

plank
downdog
uttanasana
uttithatadasana
uttanasana variation
uttithatadasana
tadasana
YAM

lunge
twisted lunge
hammock
warrior II
three leg dog
vinyasa with baby locust and locust variation
balasana
other side

tadasana with sama breath play

dancer's pose

uttanasana
malasana

bridge

twisted root

wiggle room

savasana

sit
OM
Namaste

Sweet Vinyasa: Lookng through eyes of love: 12.5.12

Ravi shared that looking is the key ingredient in love. We played in the space of looking to investigate Krisha's advice to Arguna "no learning can happen without love".

The bottom of the exhale was of particular interest

pavrita janushirsasana with twist and side bend

sit (2 mins)
YAM

slow, centering release to supine

eye of the needle
half happy baby
other side

supine pranayama 4 part breath
hanging at bottom of exhale

OM

malasana with neck release
uttanasana
uttithatadasana
tadasana

repeat

shoulder investigation, up and down, forward and back, side to side

uttithatadasana
uttanasana
lunge
twisted lunge
hammock
warrior II dance
pigeon
vinyasa with baby cobra and locust
balasana
plank
downdog
crow
uttithatadasan
tadasana

Other side
 resting in crocodile

Quiet heart tree

uttanasana
malasana

windshield wiper
twisted root

savasana

sit
OM
Namaste

Sweet Vinyasa: Shirsasana, Asteya, and Love. 12.3.12

Going upside down can be disorienting. We practiced feeling supported and moving from a calm heart to assist us in our actions.

sukasana
"yogi's botox"

cat/cow
balasana
puppy dog

easy side plank

balasana
seated shoulder rolls

even cowgirls get the blues x 3

shoulder rolls

plank
downdog

downdog play

uttanasana
uttithatadasana
uttanasana variation
tadasana

sama breath play in tadasana
YAM

lunge
twisted lunge
hammock
low crescent
hamstring stretch
other side

balasana

set up for 3 block headstand
demo

3 block headstand play

windshield wiper

eye of the needle
twist
other side

savasana

sit
OM
Namaste