One Breath at a Time 8.28.09

I've been playing with the idea of receiving. Instead of chasing after life and a pose, to relax and bring awareness into the stillness and noticing all the gifts that are present in every moment. It is a continued practice of surrender. I'm not in control of anything, including yoga. All that is asked is to keep practicing with an open heart. Abundance is everywhere. Can we allow ourselves to feel it, stay open, and welcome it into our lives with each and every breath?

This is a new place of practice for me, and sometimes it is difficult. Likewise, I found that holding the space while teaching this practice was sometimes challenging. But so worth it. Its powerful.

Heart opener on bolster breath and soft belly awareness

OM

windshield wiper

eye of the needle with twist

other side

cat

cow

balasana

1/4 dog

cow

plank

down dog

uttanasana

utkatasana

tadasana

lunge salutes

lowering to sphinx/seal soft belly breath

cow

downward facing dog

slow leg lifts/hip openers

other side

lowering to locust

dhanuransana

downdog

uttanasana

utkatasana

tadasana

lunge

hammock

horse

eagle arms exploration

eagle

tadasana

lunge

slow vinyasa

from DD

uttanasana

utkatasana

tadasana

other side

from the vinyasa

balasana

camel play

balasana/malasana/uttansana rest

supported baddha konasana

savasana

sit

3rd step prayer

Namaste

Yoga for Recovery 8.27.09

We did a lot of standing a balancing today, which is something I take for granted because it is pretty easy for me most of the time. I think a lot more prep for standing is in order. I was thinking that this series would be a nice counterbalance to one of the restorative backbends (my favorite from  the restorative tt this weekend-supported bridge). I think its a good theory, but the standing series was a bit too much for a L1-2.

Supine breath awareness

3 OMs

windshield wiper

3 part hamstring stretch (didn't use straps and wish I'd gotten them)

cat

cow

balasana

1/4 dog

plank

downdog

uttanasana

utkatasana

tadasana

YAM

side bending with forward fold

other side

wide leg forward fold with hammock

lunge salutes

lowering to sphinx soft belly

other side with YAM

lowering to cobra

locust

locust variation

barrell roll

downward facing dog

uttananasana

utkatasana

tadasana

lunge

side angle with shoulder rotation

peaceful warrior

flow vinyasa

other side

balasana

natarajasana play

second set

from peaceful warrior

standing splits

shiva

natarajasana

supported bridge

side rest with bolster spine support

MMMM's

easy spine twist

savasana

sit

Namaste!

Yoga for Recovery 8.25.09

I was deeply influenced by this weekend's restorative workshop in the idea of creating the practice of 'being' rather than 'doing'. How does this translate into a soft vinyasa practice? It ties into what we've been doing in this class with the breath. And making the practice not about touching your toes, but about touching your heart.

Body part words today were a challenge all over the place, ankle, knee, elbow, shoulder, etc. What's that about?

heart opener over bolster

windshield wiper

side rest with bolster on spine

cat

cow

balasana with side stretch

quarter dog

plank 

downdog

uttansana

utkatasana 

tadasana

side stretch with forward bend

other side

hammock

lunge salutes

lowering to sphinx, seal play

reverse windshield wiper

barrell roll

downward dog

leg lifts

uttansana

utkatasana

tadasana

warrior I

peaceful warrior

side angle

easy bound side angle

slow vinysasa

lowering to cobra

locust

dhanurasana

downward dog

other side

balasana

sukasana

seated throat openers

HAM

demo ardha chandrasana with focus on the throat/heart connection

downward facing dog

uttanasana

utkatasana

tadasana

lunge

side angle

easy bound side angle

ardha chandrasana

lunge

twisted lunge

slow vinysasa

other side 

balasana

ardha matsendrasana

forward fold

other side

bridge

supported bridge with viparita karani

easy spine twist

savasana

sit 

namaste

Prototypes Treatment Center 8.24.09

I took firmer command of the class today, not quite so nicey-nice and it was a good move. There are a lot of injuries, psychic and otherwise, and a strong container helps get us rolling. This is a new approach for me, and very useful for working in this facility.

About half way through the class I could see the relaxation of yoga kicking in. I could back off a bit and let the softened energy play into the tempo. The whole room dropped down a few levels, and faces actually changed right in front of my eyes. 

A new woman at the beginning of class was crouched in the corner, crossed legs and arms, curled up in a ball, refused to participate. She meant business so I let her sit. She joined in about 20 minutes into class and said 'see you next week' when she left. I think this is a miracle.

I  didn't leave enough time after savasana to sit and opted to close the class from the floor. I really have to watch the time...can't go even 1 minute over as the center has a regimented schedule. I think it was OK for today.

Supine breath awareness (think moving first then breath awareness will be more effective)

windshield wiper

seated side waist rock

seated twist rock

sit 

Serenity Prayer

cat/cow 

balasana

tadasana

side stretch with forward bend

shoulder shugs

1/4 sun salutations

1/2 sun salutations

lunge salute both sides

sphinx

reverse windshield wiper

Elvis hip play

warrior II dance

other side

triangle

other side

tree

supine windshield wiper

easy spine twist

savasana 

Yoga For Recovery 8.20.09

Delightful! All women today and it really felt like a sangha. I felt incredibly blessed in the presence of their practice.

Legs up the wall with head support

breath awareness

eye of the needle against the wall

wide leg stretch at wall

other side

baddha konasana at wall

supine uttita tadasana play

windshield wiper

cat/dog

barrell roll

plank

downward dog

tadasana

standing side bend with forward fold

other side

hammock

lunge salutes with side bending 

lowering to sphinx belly breath

other side

lunge

side angle with rotating arms

warrior II

trikonasana/extended 

lunge

twisted lunge

plank

cobra

locust

loc variation

reverse windshield wiper

cat

downward dog

other side

ardha matsendrasana

cow face

eagle arms/cow tipping

windshield wiper

Happy Baby (somebody cracked a hilarious joke and we all LAUGHED hard!)

other side

from windshield wiper

bridge x2

easy spine twist

supported savasana

sit

namaste!

Yoga for Recovery 8.18.09

Playing with breath as love itself because that's what it feels like to me.

Heart opener on bolster allowing thoughts

breath awareness

OM

windshield wiper

supine spine curls

eye of the needle (forgot the do the twist; think it would feel good here)

supine uttitatadasana

other side

kneeling shoulder rolls

kneeling neck rolls

easy camel with breath

toe torture with breath

toe stand

tadasana

side stretch with forward bend

other side

Hammock

uttansana

lunge salutes

second set lower to sphinx; offer seal

reverse windshield wiper

cat/cow

barrell roll 

downward facing dog

tadasana

warrior I

eagle arms

eagle

lunge

twisted lunge

vinyasa lowering to cobra

locust

dhanurasana with rolling play

balance awareness leg lifts in downdog

other side standing series

balasana

pigeon

supine tree

downdog 

pigeon other side

supine tree

bridge

body prayer bridge

supine gratitude rest

savasana

sit

Namaste!

Yoga Basics sub for Alana 8.17.09

Teaching in the evening has a different flavor than the morning. For one, I was a little tired as I had just finished a very challenging class at  Prototypes in Oxnard. It felt so nice to be at Lulu's. I rested on a bolster for about 30 minutes before class and designed this class from my supine bolster rest. It was really fun to sub Alana's class. Nice crowd. 

Legs up the wall with breath awareness

eye of the needle

wide leg stretch

other side

baddha konasana against the wall

supine tadasana

supine uttitatadasana

cat

cow

balasana

quarter dog

plank

downward facing dog

easy side plank

cat/cow

other side easy side plank

barrell roll

plank

downdog

tadasana

shoulder opener with strap

forward fold

hammock

tadasana

lunge salutes

lower to sphinx

lunge salutes with side bend

lower to cobra

locust

cow

plank

downward dog

tadasana

warrior 1

dandayamana bipaktapada janushirsasana

warrior III

tadasana

other side

from Warrior III standing splits

lunge

vinysana

balasana

bridge x2

eye of the needle

soothing heart meditation

sit

savasana

sit

Namaste!