Sweet Vinyasa: What's stealing your peace? Monday, May 20, 2013.

The yama asteya, non-stealing, has come to my attention in part as a result of Kira's workshop this weekend involving the study of the first two rungs of Patanjali's 8 limb path. I'd always breezed over asteya, as my understanding of non-stealing has been in the outermost levels and the  obviousness of non-stealing made this yama "boring ". But, like any relationship, the closer you pay attention and have interest, the more interesting it becomes. The invitation of the yoga practice is to look deeper, into the more subtle. I found myself asking "what's actually stealing my peace? What's blocking my willingness to see more clearly? Its less about the 'things' and 'people', or life and situations, and all about my thoughts and my relationship to the awesomeness that's clearly right here and now.

windshield wiper
supine pada gustasana and twist with strap at wall
manipura meditation
RAM

cat
cow
puppy dog

rainbow with OMG variations
flying cow

plank
downdog with foot play

uttanasana
uttithatadasana
shoulder roll
uttanasana variation
tadasana
shoulder rolls and shrugs

tadasana on brick play
(noticing how hands help balance)

tadasana
RAM

lunge
warrior I dance
parvatadasana
warrior III aligning with asteya
pigeon
three leg dog
wild thing option
downdog
plank
baby cobra
locust
balasana
other side (fresh)

from downdog
plank
locust variation

balasana
paschimotadasana

foot rub and observation

seated twist

savasana

sit
OM
Namaste

Sweet Vinyasa: From the perspective of the breath: Wednesday, May 16. 2013

Asmita, translates as 'I am this, I am that'. So Ham, the sound of the breath, translates as simply I Am. We played today in the wider perspective of the breath.

 Windshield wiper
Wall supine pada gustasana w strap
Gratitude meditation
YAM bath


Cat
Cow
Barrel roll

Plank
Downdog
Uttanasana
Uttithatadasana
Tadasana
Repeat

Tadasana
OM

Lunge
Warrior 11 dance
Standing Texas star
Standing upavista konasana
Hammock
Low crescent with side dips
Downdog
Uttanasana
Tadasana
Other side with standing twist in hammock

Downdog
Plank
Baby cobra
Locust

Reclining Buddha

Bridge x2

Twisted root

Savasana

Sit
OM
Namaste

Yin Yoga and Meditation: The experience of the radiant self: Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Our discussion revolved around the practice suggested by Buddha of "mindfulness in the body", the measuring manos mind, and the experience of the inner radiance as described by Patanjali in sutra 1.36.

sit 5 mins

butterfly 4.5 mins

swan or supine eye of the needle 3.5 each side with 2 min or so rest

balasana 2 mins
lunge 3.5 mins each side

sphinx/seal 3.5 mins

twisted root 3 mins each side

sit/savasana 13 mins
sit/savasana 4 mins

namaste

Prototypes Women's Center: Maitri and meditation: Monday, May 13, 2013

Discussion: What is yoga?
some of the answers were:
relaxation
meditation
peace
feeling better

We explored the definition of yoga found in the Bhagavad Gita as "yoga is breaking the bonds of suffering"

at wall:
breath into extended side
round two, breath into low back and sacrum

we explored sutra 1.34 (taking a deep breath to calm the mind)

we explored a maitri meditation to calm the mind. We emphasized the idea of practicing friendliness..it is a tool. This is difficult for many women. We found finding a safe place (ie beach, mountains, etc) usually was easier than a person or pet.

Does it matter what we're thinking

Alternate nostril breath experiement

BREAK

yoga practice

supine back of heart meditation

eye of the needle

tadasana
shoulder rolls and shrugs

guitar hero

crazy eights

uttanasana

lunge
low crescent
balasana
other side lunge

bridge x2

twisted root or easy spine twist

savasana

sit
Namaste

Alano Club: Breath, Expansion and You: Monday, May 13, 2013

The yogis of ayurveda say to move slowly during the heat to conserve energy. We used the practice tonight to practice moving slowly and pay closer attention to what is really happening.

windshield wiper with side bend

experiment with supine legs

three part breath awareness

all fours wrist exercise

easy side plank with courtesy

barrel roll

low lunge
pigeon variation
low crescent
balasana
other side

twisted root or easy spine twist

sit or savasana 13 mins
namaste

Sweet Vinyasa: Slow Down and Notice: Monday, May 13, 2013

The weather in Ojai has been hot tamale lately. Ayurvedic practitioners suggest we slow down in the heat to conserve our energy. We took our practice this morning to slow down and take notice of our magnificent selves. Sutra 1.36 came to visit us.

supported reclining Buddha

sit (2 mins)
gratitude meditation
OM

all fours wrist exploration
spread fingers wide shoulder circles
turn wrists  fingers out to the side and shoulder circles
turn wrists fingers towards knees with balasana

easy side plank
plank variation
plank variation with balasana
flying cow
other side

plank
downdog
uttanasana
gorilla

uttithatadasana
uttanasana variation
repeat

tadasana with sama breath play
YAM

lunge
warrior II dance
trikonasana
standing Texas Star
hammock
low crescent

plank
downdog
baby cobra
swimming locust
plank
downdog
other side

tadasana
YAM

Dancing Shiva play

uttanasana
downdog
plank
heart support rest
supine heart support rest

eye of needle
half happy baby

YAM heart bath
other side

supported savasana

sit
OM
Namaste

Sweet Vinyasa: Radiance Free From Sorrow: 5.8.13

We used Sutra 1.36 "experience inner radiance free from sorrow" as our primary alignment today.

Sit

Sukasana forward fold and two way side bend

Sit

Malasana with twist option

Uttanasana
Uttitha tadasana
Tadadana

Shoulder rolls
Uttanasana variation

Tadasana

Lunge salutes

Lunge
Warrior 11 dance
Triangles
StandingTexas star
Hammock

Lunge
Downdog
Plank
Baby cobra

Barrel roll
Other side

Twist on all fours

Pigeon
Supine tree

Bridge x2

Twisted root

Savasana


Sit
Namaste