Strong Vinyasa (sub for Casey) 2.5.10

Taught more poses than most classes. I've been playing with twists lately and found two new seated twists from Eddie Ellner's class at Yoga Soup last night and put those in to the sequence. Totally spaced out on an all fours balance sequence I wanted to offer at the beginning of class..hopefully will remember then for Sunday as it was fun to play with these poses.

Used a music CD mix that I use in my private practice with some of my favorite tune, an eclectic mix..Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, Billy Rae Cyrus, kirtan, Cat Stevens, Hapa from Hawaii...I never made it to play in a class but today I figured, why not?

Sukasana
breath awareness

janushirsasana forward fold, side opening, mid line forward fold
table top
paschimotadasana
other side

(meant to do all fours balancing sequence here..spaced out...)

malasana
uttanasana

tadasana

lunge salutes

tadasana
warrior I
warrior II
side angle
twisted half moon
standing splits

vinyasa
tree
tadasana

other side

balasana/downdog/headstand
tree
tadasana

tadasana
lunge
twisted lunge
pigeon
twisted pigeon
three leg dog
revolved dog
plank
downdog
warrior I
vinyasa

other side

Sun series A

balasana/downdog/headstand

balasana

sage pose

twisted half lotus

windshield wiper

(backbend)

savasana
listed to the raindrops

sit
OM
Namaste

Vinyasa Basics 2.4.10

Think this series needs some external rotation hip opening,,,perhaps eye of the needle or pigeon as we come down to the floor? Where to make room?

I find writing out sequences helps me see certain patterns from another perspective. Thank you to Lulu's for suggesting the practice.

Prayer twists are heating and intense. Its a difficult pose to me and for some reason it has popped into my private practice lately so I've brought it into classes.

Sukasana
3 breaths
breath awareness and grounding
OM

seated twist
table top
paschimotadasana
seated twist

malasana with hip opener
uttansanasana

tadasana
uttittadasana

side stretch
forward fold
other side
wide leg forward fold

lunge salutes wtih sphinx/seal
lunge salutes wtih cobra/locust/bow

downdog

lunge salutes with prayer twist

tadasana

lunge
cresent pose
twisted lunge
cresent
prayer twist
tree

vinysasa

balasana
other side

vinyasa

windshield wiper
bridge
sacrum rest/heart meditation

twisted root

savasana

sit
Namaste!

11th step Meditation 2.4.10

Had a group of regular sitters so played with shaking up the energy. Felt like it worked out OK!

Baddha konasana

sukasana
kapabalti breathing
twist
table top
paschimotadasana
kababalti breating
other side

windshield wiper

malasana with hip opener

uttansasana with hamstring stretch

tadasana
uttitatadasana

standing shimmy

sit

read

share

OM
Namaste!

Sweet Vinyasa (sub for Kira) 2.3.10

Twists still rock my world. Not a repetitive sequence but different twists. Sort of a different approach to try something different. Think the sequencing needs more work....its a good all around opener but can be a little challenging for L1-2.

Sukasana
3 breaths
breath awareness
OM

seated spine twist
table top
paschimotadasana
other side

malasana
uttanasana

tadasana
standing side stretch
forward fold
other side
wide leg forward fold

lunge salutes with sphinx/seal
lunge salutes with cobra/locust/bow

twisted prayer low/high lunge salutes

tadasana
cresent
twisted lunge
cresent
twisted prayer
cresent
tree

vinysasa

other side

balasana

tadasana
lunge
warrior 1
eagle arm play
eagle
warrior III

vinyasa

balasana
tadasana
angelli mudra

repeat second side

balasana/downdog/vinyasa free form

bridge
baddha konasana
bridge
sacrum rest

(demo)

elevated twist

supported savasana

sit
OM
Namaste!

New-ish sequence to teach for me. I forgot tree pose on the second side but I didn't freak out about it when I noticed and stayed centered on where we were at. This, I think, is progress for me.

Still integrating sutras 1.13, 1.15

Baddha Konasana

Janushirsasana with twist and side bend
sukasana forward fold
table top
paschimotadasana
other side

malasana
utttanasana

tadasana

lunge salutes with sphinx/seal
cat/cow
other side
cobra
locust bow

downdog

low lunge
prayer twist
other side

tadasana

lunge
cresent
twisted lunge
cresent
prayer twist
tree

vinyasa

balasana
tadasana
reverse prayer (or hands behind back)
heart meditation

other side
(forgot tree!)

balasana

side saddle stretch
side saddle twist

bridge
baddha konasana
bridge
sacrum rest

(demo)

elevated spine twist
supported savasana

sit
OM
Namaste!

Prototypes Treatment Center 2.01.10

Our check in revealed today might be a challenging class. Lots of 'confused, angry, sad, frustrated' comments. After the check in I asked, 'why do you think most group sessions here at Prototypes start with a check in?". Found this a good way to introduce sutra 1.13 "Abhyasa is the effort to remain present".

As we began moving, the group was more restless than usual, and we had some interruptions from outside staff. Finally I quit struggling, stopped the practice and asked, "what's going on today ladies?'. There was some confusion and much agitation about the 3PM smoke break...was it On or Off? Took the opportunity to point out that was exactly what sutra 1.13 was useful for. Why freak out in yoga class about a smoke break that happens (or not) later in the afternoon. I'm not sure it helped, but I think some of them got the point.

It settled them down enough to resume our practice, gave them some fun balancing things, and ended with a longer than usual guided relaxation savasana.

Check in

sutra 1.13

supine uttitatadasana play

eye of the needle

sukasana side bending

sukasana spine twist

tadasana

(break)

catcher's arm (renamed pirate ship)

Warrior III play

Tree
Circle/support Tree

Bridge

spine twist

guided relaxation

savasana

sit
post check in

sign papers 1:1

Sweet Vinyasa (sub for Kira) 2.1.10

M and W 8.30 classes are my regular practice classes. It was a little intimidating to sub from Kira, but all my work at this moment is pointing me to relaxing into my authentic self and surrendering my attachment to the outcome. Sutra 1.13 and 1.15 is very much alive and useful for me, and teaching this class was a great opportunity to practice just that.

Found my center about 1/3 through class.

It was an enjoyable experience and I am continually grateful for Lulu's and for the teachings of yoga to guide me on and off the mat.

cannonball
spine awareness
sutra 1.13
windshield wiper

eye of the needle

easy side plank

all fours balance pose
balasana
puppy dog
other side

downdog
tadasana
Rumi 'when you do things from the soul, you feel a river moving within'

lunge salutes with sphinx/seal
cat/cow/barrel
other side
cobra
locust
bow

tadasana
angeli mudra

lunge
warrior I dance
warrior II
side angle
twisted lunge

vinysasa
balasana
other side

(demo second set)
sutra 1.15

tadasana
OM
lunge
warrior I
warrior II
side angle
twisted lunge
vasistasana

vinyasa

other side

balasana

bridge
supine baddha konasana
bridge
sacrum rest with gratitude meditation

twisted root

savasana

sit
OM
Namaste!