Vinyasa Basics: Celebrating Surrender. 3.31.11

We played with Sutra 1.12 abhyasa vairagyabhyam tan nirodhah, with particular emphasis on Vairagya.

sukasana
spine rock
forward fold
other side

sukasana twist

cat/cow
balasana
puppy dog

balasana

sphinx/seal

balasana

malasana
uttanasana

malasana with cowboy negociation
uttanasana
uttithatadasana
tadasana
YAM

lunge
hammock
low crescent
downdog
baby cobra
locust
windshield wiper
cat
balasana
balasana variation

plank
downdog

other side

uttanasana
utkatasana
tadasana
RAM

lunge
hammock
warrior II dance
trikonasana
lunge
three leg dog
vinyasa
other side

pigeon
vinyasaa
other side
releasing to supine

bridge x2

twisted root

savasana

sit
OM
Namaste!

11th Step Meditation. A matter of attention. 3.31.11

Ravi Ravindra, The Wisdom of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, p173 (in his chapter titled 'May We All be Blessed into Usefulness".

"Everything, both what we find pleasant and what we find unpleasant, happens mechanically according to the laws of nature inside us as well as outside, and will continue this way. If we do not bring an active attention, we are only objects affected by the play of forces. If we do bring active attention, the forces still operate, but as we become more and more aware of them we can participate in the vast play of Prakriti with more consciousness".

windshield wiper

eye of the needle
twisted root
other side

sukasana side bending

paschimotadasana

sit 20 mins

read P. 173-176

share

sit
OM
Namaste!

Prototypes Women's Center: Soft Belly. 3.28.11

A question about 'what do you mean by softening the belly' set the tone for our class today. It was about relaxing enough to be yourself. Several were brand new to yoga. It is always fun to watch the suprise and delight of the practice of yoga.

After Namaste peeps stayed quiet and hung around for a while. They were in no hurry...

Supine
3 part breath awareness with hands

Sukasana side bending

Tasasana
Uttanasana

Guitar hero arms (new name today)

Standing neck stretches with arm curls
Heart tapping

Simple Lunge salutes

Downdog
Sphinx
Windshield wiper
Rocket cat
Balasana
Plank
Downdog
Uttanasana
Tadasana

Soft belly question. Relax the grip

Lunge salutes with crescent and hamstring stretch sequence

bridge x2

seated twist

savasana

sit
Namaste
1:1 sign papers

Vinyasa Basics: Patience, Practice and Grace. 3.29.11

We used the AUM as a anchor to explore the four levels of consiousness *Walking, Dreaming, Deep Sleep, and , the Fourth/silence, as well as the conscious and gross, unconscious and subtle, and subconscious and causal. We played with sutra 1.2 as an awakening, sutra 1.34 to feel the subtle, and the aspect of grace in opening. Willingness, not will, and practices as preparation for waking up.

I was inspired this this idea of patience in working with the women of Prototypes yesterday who said 'Hurry..next side!' as we paused between sides to feel the flow of prana. It reminds me of my own impatience! I am grateful for Ravi Ravindra's interpretation of the Upanishad of the teachings which come to us as a matter of grace. It is our part to show up.

I've been wanting to share the supine half virasana piece for months and holding back with an (semi conscious) fear of failing, and today..it came out! We all survived!!!

OM on bricks
A
O
M
OMx3

cat
cow
balasana
sphinx/seal
balasana

easy side plank
balasana with gratitude meditation
other side easy side plank

plank
downdog

uttanasana
malasana
uttithatadasana
tadasana

qi gong standing twist

tadasana
YAM

lunge
hammock
low crescent
pyramid
lunge
downdog
other side

uttanasana
utkatasana

tadasana
OM
lunge
twist
warrior I
eagle arms
eagle
warrior III
standing splits
lunge
vinyasa

balasana

plank

vinyasa

tadasana
second side warrior I-Warrior III series

balasana

half virasansa with forward fold
supine half virasana with optional knee to chest

happy baby
bridge

rolling to vinyasa

other side

twisted root

knee to chest/happy baby

savasana

sit
OM
Namaste!

Yoga Blue: Unbroken. 3.26.11

Inspired by the Rumi quote, “Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built", our practice tonight focused primarily in heart opening practices (postures, chanting YAM, gratitude meditation, sutra 1.33, taoist cycle of creativity) to assist in honing in awareness to blocks in the heart.

Heart opener over bricks
supine rest

sukasana side bending

uttanasana
malasana
uttithatadasana
tadasana
YAM

anahata tapping

easy lunge salutes

sphinx
windshield wiper

balasana

plank
downdog
uttanasana
tadasana

lunge salute swith low crescent and hamstring stretch
baby cobra
locust variation
balasana

plank
downdog
uttanasana
malasana

cowboy negociation

uttanasana
tadasana
YAM

lunge
warrior I
three leg dog
cobra
balasana
plank
downdog
tadasana
gratitude meditation
other side

roll to supine
eye of the needle

simple twist (or twisted root)

supported savasana

sit
OM
Namaste!

Aligning with Satya

We played with finding elements of the earth, air, ether, and fire.
(ran out if time to talk about water!) and the second Yama Satya as
alignment, noticing the quiet as we align closer to our truth within.

Sutra 1.2 especially chitta as heart-mind, 3.34

Kneeling on bricks
Om
A
O
M
Om x 3

Shoulder rolls

Neck Stretches
HAM

cat
cow
balasana
puppy dog

eye of the needle

sukasana side bending

tadasana
uttantasana
malasana
uttanasana
uttithatadasana
tadasana
LAM

simple lunge salutes
downdog
plank
sphinx
windshield
balasana

plank
downdog
uttantasana
utkatasana
tadasana
RAM

lunge
hammock
cresent
dowdog
baby cobra
locust
locust variation/bow
balasana
plank
downdog
uttanasana
utkatasana
tadasana
YAM
other side

from balasana
toe stand
tadasana
gratitude meditation
walking meditation
tadasana
lunge
hammock
warrior II dance
vinysasa
other side
from vinyasa

bridge x2

twisted root

savasana

sit
OM
Namaste!

11th Step Meditation. Attention, Search and Surprise. 3.24.11

Kneeling on 2 bricks
Spine rolls
Neck stretches

Cat/cow
Balasana

Easy side plank

Eye of the needle

Sit

Read commentary "May we be Blessed into Usefulness" p 173-175 Ravi Ravindra "The Wisdom of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras".

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Namaste!