Yin Yoga: YIn and Restorative similar and different: 5.7.13

The question came up about different styles of yoga so we used that as some talking points. And making the general observation that the yoga asanas are, in part, about self study (swadyaya) and seeing more clearly.

impressing the heart

butterfly

swan
half gomukasana

lunge

saddle

restorative twist over bolster

sit
sit/savasana

Sweet Vinyasa: Aligning with Ananda: 5.6.13

The yogis say there are three properties of each and everyone of us..Sat, Chit and Ananda. We played in the realm of ananda whilst we used breath, mantra, and movement in our practice of self study (swadyaya).

windshield wiper with side length

supine pada gustasana and twist with strap

cat
cow
puppy dog with arm variation

plank
downdog

arch torture play

downdog

uttanasana
uttithatadasana
tadasana
YAM

lunge
twisted lunge
hammock
horse
prasrita pada gustasana
downdog
baby cobra
locust
locust play
other side with skandasana and chinese splits play

downdog
rolling plank
rolling to updog x2

supine knees to chest
twisted root

sit
OM
Namaste

Teaching Yoga to Addicts: Relationship: 5.5.13

We worked with the definition of yoga from the Bhagavad Gita as 'breaking the bonds of suffering', and the unconscious relationship with our addictions, is suffering because it holds us back from our Sat Chit Ananda. The body in some way knows we are Divine and it is very painful to not see it clearly. So we practice, practice, and practice. And remember.

Opening question/comment: Which comes first the chicken or the egg? (the freedom or the klesha?). This question will continue to draw me in. Thank you.

Practice: (I believe it went something like this..)

windshield wiper variation
eye of the needle variation
cat/cow barrel roll

reclining buddha

plank
downdog
uttanasana
malasana
tadasana

at wall
side stretch
tadasana with breath
breath in lower back/sacrum awareness
side stretch variation
wall uttanasana
wall malasana

uttanasana
tadasana

downdog
sphinx
baby cobra
locust
locust variation
balasana

seated practice and discussion with sutra 1.33
Maitri
Karuna

bridge
bridge/wheel

supported twist over bolster
savasana

BREAK

circle and share
comments and questions

safe touch exercise
discussion

mini break

circle
Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Namaste

Teaching Yoga To Addicts: Parasympathetic and Sympathatic, Squirrel and Klesha:

We examined a wider view of addiction,  riffing off the Tibetian mantra ' already healed, already whole'. A loose, working definition become something like 'that which holds us back from not seeing our divine self clearly.'

We played in the practices of sutra 1.34 (the breath) and sutra 1.12 (abhyasa and surrender) and in the model of how the mind works as described by the kleshas (sutra  2.3).


Opening hello and gathering:
Notice who is here and showing up. Practicing ease in learning names and  "please tell me again, what's your name?'

Asana Practice:
windshield wiper

supine knee to chest with "soccer kick" noticing effects of grip
supine pada gustasana and twist using strap
rest
"naming the feeling"

into to parasympathetic nervous system
tailbone awareness
cervical spine awareness

shimmy

cat/cow
barrel roll
balasana
puppy dog

plank
downdog
uttanasana
tadasana
shoulder rolls and shrugs

standing shoulder opener with strap

Crazy 8's

(this lead to a wonderful discussion of shaking off traumatic stress aka "Squirrel")

tadasana
1/4 sun salutes x3

lunge
low crescent or hanamunasana
other side

balasana

with chairs
pranayama practice with the thoughts experiment

twisted root

waterfall

sit
OM
Namaste

break

circle
Autonomic Nervous System discussion and demonstration.  Sutra 1.34
Klesha and tree imagery discussion

Homework assignment:
notice the kleshas and breath into them
begin to notice what has you in its grip the most, As you begin to see it more clearly allow it to be the juice of your class. Begin to think about what this might look like
Read Schiffmann article and Joel Kramer article
Watch Gil Hedleys videos

A yogi asked 'who is Gil Hedley?'. After much swooning from Lulu peeps we read one of his poems from our manual.

heart opener over bolster with 3 part pranayama

sit
OM
Namaste

Teaching Yoga to Addicts: Teacher Training Friday Evening: Meeting. 5.3.13

This evening we made a beginning to meet some of the yogic practices useful for teaching this population. And then we met each other with discussions about how the practices meet us for self care and care for others.

Welcome and Yoga Sutra 1.1
Atha Yoga Anushasanam.
Here and Now, if all the conditions are correct, the teachings of yoga will begin.

Practice:

Windshield wiper

Eye of the Needle

Sukasana side bending

Tadasana
Uttanasana
Uttithatadasana
Tadasana

Shoulder rolls and shrugs

Guitar Hero

Tadasana

Lunge
Low Crescent
Tadasana
other side

Balasana

Easy spine twist

Supported savasana

Sit
Namaste

Break

Circle
Journal sessions:
What are you thinking about/what has you in its grip?
What are you learning lately? On and off the mat.
Why are you here?
What are you hoping to learn this weekend?

Share and meet

Some of the themes that our weaving our group:
Yoga and Self Care
Service
Breathwork
The many levels and flavors of addiction
Sharing practices of yoga and sharing ourselves

Homework:
write out the names and something you remember about each person here
write out the yoga practice sequence
Read "The Effort Effect"

The Four Parts of OM
Sit

Namaste

Yin Yoga: OM and Asmita: 5.1.13

sit
OM

baddha konasana

pigeon or eye at wall

balasana
lunge

sphinx/seal

twisted root

sit 15 mins
sit/savasana 5 mins

namaste

Sweet Vinyasa: Where "I" am not. 5.1.13

Samadi is where I am not. The I gets in the way of seeing our awesomeness. We used breath, mantra and movement to find the Sat Chit Ananda just waiting for us to see.
 
OM on bricks with states of Iness

cat
cow
balasana

arch torture with downdog

balasana
puppy dog with variation

plank
downdog

uttanasana with hamstring stretch

tadasana

at Wall
relationships can help side breath awareness
tatoo spot awareness

tadasana
forward fold
lunge
warrior I
parvatadasana
warrior III
standing splits
pigeon
wild thing
tadasana
YAM
other side

baby cobra
locust
swimming locust

bridge
twisted root

savasana

sit
OM
Namaste