Monday, May 21, 2012

Pepperdine Universitiy: Study Your Breath! 5.18.12

A class presented to a group of Executive MBA students at Pepperdine University. As a graduate of the program (2000) it is a particular delight to oome here to share yoga.

We touched on the power of focus and experimenited with breath around the concept of conserving prana.  The suggestion was the breath can be a powerful management tool . Be a "professional of the interior landscape!" (Tenzin Palmo)

Focus and alignment, willingness and surprise also came to play.

Supine
3 deep breaths (this was for me too...it's fairly intimidating to be with all those brainiacs!!)

Windshield wiper

Eye of the needle

Sukasana side bending

Prana discussion

Alternate nostril breathing
discussion of effects

Breath awareness with 'latest worry"
Discussion of effects

Deep breath with latest worry
Discussion of effects

Sutra 1.2
Namaste!

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Vinyasa Basics: Aligning with Santosha. 5.17.12

Ultra gentle practice where we took our cues from the niyama Santosha and sutra 1.34.

upside chair at wall
bhramari breath variation

supine shoulder stretches with the breath.

watery side bending

cat
cow
balasansa
sphinx

easy side plank

plank
downdog
uttanasana
tadasana
YAM

lunge salues with bricks

vinysasa with baby cobra and locust

reclining buddha with shoulder stretch

downdog
lunge
hammock
warrior II dance
vinyasa with three leg dog, baby cobra and locust variation
other side

baby cobra

supine sukasana

eye of needle
twist
rest
other side

savasana

sit
OM
Namaste

sit

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Vinyasa Basics: The Path of the Heart: 5.18.12

heart opener over bolster
pranayama
OM

windshield wiper
rest

padagustasana and twist with strap

cat
cow
sphinx

easy side plank

plank
downdog

uttanasana
uttitha tadasana
tadasana
shoulder rolls
uttanasana variation

tadasana
YAM
lunge
twisted lunge
low crescent
tadasana
other side

vinasya with baby cobra and locust variation
balasana

plank
dd
uttansana

tadasana
heart tapping


lunge
side angle prep
trikonasna
side angle
twisted lunge
vasistasana

vinyasa

other side

bridge
supported bridge

twisted root

savasana

sit
OM
Namaste

Monday, May 14, 2012

Prototypes Women's Center: Prana: 5.14.12

We talked about Prana as vital life force and what contributes to increasing prana as well as how important it is to conserve our prana, especially with attention to our thoughts. We concluded with a discussion of sutra 1.2 using Ravi Ravindra's translation of nirodahah as 'mastery', and together considered how the word 'Yoga' could be replaced by the word 'Recovery' and make good common sense.

Writing exercise:
What did you think about this morning, first thing?
What wakes you/keeps you up at night?
What are you most interested in at the moment/what occupies your thoughts.

Palmo professional of internior landscape
Discussion of Prana

Meridian accupressure points exercise

Conserving Prana
three ways to leak prana
alternate nostril breathing
breath awareness in negative thoughts
breath awareness in postive thoughts
breath awareness in negative thoughts and deep breathing

sutra 1.2 nirohada mastery

Namaste


1:1 sign papers

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Vinyasa Basics: Sacrificing self for Self: 5.8.12

We played in the feeling tones of asmita, as defined by Ravi Ravindra as 'attachment to the small', and considered loosening our attachments as yajna.

wanted to end with short sit but ran out of time....

sit
gratitude meditation
belly breath
A x2
OM

cat
cow
barell roll

balasana
sphinx
reverse windshield

balance play on all fours
with foot and inner thigh stretch (need a name for this pose!)

plank
downdog

tadasana
shoulder shrugs
shoulder rolls
uttanasana variation

tadasana
neck stretches with shoulder rolls

at wall
side waist opening
splat pose
wall dog
wall warrior III

wall uttanasana
wall malasana

uttanasana
tadasana

lunge
hammock
warrior I
parvatadasana
warrior III
pigeon
vinyasa with baby cobra and locust

other side

from pigeon

bridge
cosmic rest

twisted root

savasana

sit
OM
Namaste

Friday, May 4, 2012

Vinyasa Basics: Yajna as 'Navel of the Cosmos. 5.4.12

Inspired by Rig Veda 1.164.35 "Yajna is the navel of the cosmos"

sit on bricks
A x3
OM x 3

paschimotadasana

seated janushirsasana with twist and side bend

sukasana
OM

cat
cow
plank
downdog

uttanasana
uttitha tadasana with side stretch
tadasana
RAM

shiva foot rub
wonder meditation at feet

at wall:
side stretch
puppy dog
downdog
warrior III
uttanasana
malasana

tadasana
YAM

lunge
twisted lunge
hammock
crescent
vinyasa with baby cobra and locust
other side

balasana

plank
downdog
tadasana

YAM

lunge
warrior I dance
parvatadasana
warrior III
pigeon
vinyasa with cobra and locust
other side

bridge

cosmic rest

twisted root

savasana

sit
OM
Namaste


Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Vinyasa Basics: Surprise and Wonder. 5.1.12

We used the postures to practice surprise and wonder. These are the feeling tones of the Rig Veda.

Sit
belly meditation
OM

janu shirsasana with twist and side bend

Shiva's foot rub
wonder meditation

cat
cow
balasana

even cowgirls get the blues
even cowgirls with dolphin

downdog

uttanasanas
uttithatadasana
tadasana

lunge
twisted lunge
hammock
low crescent
tadasana
other side

vinyasa with baby cobra and locust

downdog
utkatasana
tadasana

lunge
warrior I
parvatadasana
warrior III
pigeon

vinyasa with cobra and locust variation

other side

supine

twist with gratitude meditation

savasana

sit
OM
Namaste