Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Vinyasa Basics: Willd and Precious Life: 8.31.10

Mary Oliver's "What will you do with your one wild and precious life" inspired the practice today. We played with finding space, breath, ease, and grace in a bind.

sukasana
breath awareness
angeli mudra
intention
OM

supine hamstring stretch with twist using strap

heart meditation with "what will you do with your one Wild and Precious life?"

easy side plank
balasana

plank
downdog

tadasana
catcher's arm shoulder opener
shoulder opener with strap
forward fold shoulder opener with strap

lunge
hammock
other side
sphinx/seal

lunge
hammock
trikonasana with extension
side angle
three leg dog with twist
downdog
other side

downdog
plank
baby cobra
locust
cobra
windshield wiper
balasana

demo the bind

lunge
hammock
trikonasana
1/2 bind side angle
(towards) full bind

downdog
malasana

downdog
other side bind sequence

from vinyasa roll to backs

easy eye of the needle
rest
easy eye of the needle
rest with heart meditation and sutra 1.1
twisted root

sit
OM
Namaste

Monday, August 30, 2010

Prototypes Women's Center: Ujjayi Breathing: that "breathing thing". 8.30.10

There is a big turnover in the house and a large influx of new women. The energy of brand newly sober peeps and 'Oh my God I'm in rehab' anxiety is thick. Clearly there was one thing to teach today..to breathe deeply.

Some of the women who have been arounda while are starting to catch on. At the beginning of class one of them said, "hey! Do that breathing thing you do, SHE (pointing out a newer woman who was in tears) really needs it".

"We all need a little ujjayi breathing in our lives", I said. And with that, we began our practice together today.

Supine
3 deep breaths to land
invitation to be a yogi scientist

slow supine shoulder openers with breath

tailbone awareness (I need to learn more language around this, or hold it for later in the practice...very vulnerable spot for newbys)
neck awareness up and down
neck awareness side to side

easy eye of the needle
rest and notice. Asked for language.
other side
rest

sukasana side bending

uttanasana with hamstring stretch

tadasana

ujjayi breathing
vagus nerve
ujjai breathing with hands at ribs
ujjayi breathing in angeli mudra

1/4 sun salutations

lunge
low lunge
low twisted lunge
balasana
other side
balasana

tadasana
warrior II dance with ujjayi breathing
wide leg forward fold
other side

malasana

windshield wiper
easy spine twist

Message from a Deer meditation
savasana

sit
yoga scientist reports
Namaste

1:1 sign and return schedules

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Strong Vinyasa. Moving with Grace. 8.29.10

Sukasana
breath awareness
intention

supine leg extensions and twist with strap

easy side plank

toe stand
tadasana

downdog
lunge
high lunge
twisted lunge
other side

cobra

plank
downdog
tadasana

lunge
hammock
trikonasana
extended trikonasana
side angle
twisted lunge
other side

cobra
locust
bow

plank
downdog
tadasana
OM

lunge
hammock
headstand
trikonasana
bound side angle
bird of paradise

uttanasana

other side

vinyasa

tadasana
tree
tree with extended leg variation
dancing shiva

bridge
wheel

walking wheel play
wheel variation

viparita karani or shoulder stand

plow
fish pose

twisted root
rest
twisted root
rest

savasana

sit
OM
Namaste!

Yoga Blue: Love as tool of transformation. 8.28.10

Class tonight as a special fundraiser, followed by kirtan. The generosity of those who showed up helps others and I am grateful for their support.

Heart opener over bolster
breath awareness
Love meditation
Krishnamurti "When you feel in the heart this extraordinary thing called love, for you, the world is transformed"
OM

supine rest

cat
cow
balasana
puppy dog

plank
downdog
plank

easy side plank

plank
downdog

lunge
hammock
cresent
other side

baby cobra
locust
cobra
windshield wiper

tadasana
YAM
meridian massage

tadasana
lunge
hammock
warrior II dance
other side

downdog
plank
cobra

supine

bridge x2

twisted root
rest
twisted root
rest

supported savasana

sit
"think of your fellow man
give him a helping hand
put a little love in your heart.
And the world will be a better place"

Namaste.

break

Kirtan!

Monday, August 23, 2010

Prototypes Women's Center. Be kind to yourself. 8.23.10

Peeps were really in their heads today, and there was a lot of resistance when we got started. I have to pick my battles, and some of them I just let sit in chairs on the sidelines and breathe.

It took 30 minutes to get into a zone. I kept cueing deep breaths and it helped to show ujJaii breathing with hands wrapped around the ribs so they could feel it. Warrior III also helped, as it was fun as well as challenging. They were really in it!

Got most of the talking points in towards the end when the room energetically cleared. We talked about thoughts being the number one source of toxicity; we breathed in kindness and love, and exhaled out 'anything that doesn't serve'..fear, anger, jealousy...

Lead into savasana with a meditation on feeling supported and feeling connected to the earth.

Supine with 3 breaths to land.
breath awareness and purpose of the inhale is to promote the exhale
windshield wiper

sukasana side bending

uttanasana with hamstring stretch
tadasana

crazy 8's
tadasana with emphasis on heart lifted, tailbone rooted
ujaii breathing with hands at ribs

lunge
low lunge
other side

uttanasana
tadasana

step back to:
Warrior I
parsvatadasana
Warrior III

tadasana
malasana

other side standing

bridge
sacrum rest
back of heart rest

twisted root
rest
other side

savasana

sit
Namaste!

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Yoga Blue: Syncing to the Anahata. 8.21.10

Practices for the heart, from the heart.

Heart opener over bolster
YAM
12 petal meditation
windshield wiper

supine rest

sukasana side bending
table top
paschimotadasana

sukasana with hrydai mudra
gratitude mediation

uttanasana
uttitha tadasana
tadasana

heart tapping with subtle energy play

tadasana
YAM

lunge
low lunge
cresent
tiger
other side
sphinx

downdog
uttanasana
uttithatadasana with YAM
tadasana
angeli mudra

lunge
hammock
three leg dog
other side

cobra
revolved twist
other side

supine rest
back of heart meditation
YAM

balasana

virasana with tonglen

wide leg forward fold

straight leg seated twist
knee pile with forward fold
other side

legs up the wall

savasana
mantra: "I am in sync with all of life. I am blessed"

sit
OM
Namaste!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Vinyasa Basics: Shoulders. 8.17.10

Request for shoulders today!

Sukasana side bending

cat
cow
balasana
puppy dog

easy side angle

even cowgirls get the blues

virasana with shoulder shrugs

plank
downdog

lunge
cresent
other side

baby cobra
locust
cobra

locust
locust variation

rocket cat
plank
downdog

tadasana
lunge
hammock
warrior II prep with eagle arms
warrior II with arms/finger stretches

vinyasa

other side

balasana

hindu pushups x 6

balasana

downdog
tadasana

lunge
side angle prep
trikonasana with heavy arm
bound side angle

vinyasa

other side

vinyasa
balasana

pigeon
supine tree
bridge

pigoen
spine tree
bridge/dhaurasana play

resting buddha with shoulder stretch

ardha matseyendrasana
cow tipping

supported savasana

sit
Namaste!