What Cheree Taught Today (or made)

Intermediate Class on Wednesday, January 12, 2011

2011-01-12T20:20:00.000-06:00

Another fun class this week focusing on forward extensions!

Swastikasana

Adho Mukha Virasana - outer ankles in, stretch back thru inner edge of the foot and big toe, release inner thighs and groins down, extend front body forward and bring back body in

Adho Mukha Svanasana - broaden hamstrings and pin outer femurs in

Uttanasana - broaden hamstrings, press inner heels to bring outer femurs in, concave first, bring back body in, then maintaining concavity as much as possible lengthen trunk down

Padangusthasana - broaden hamstrings, press inner heels to bring outer femurs in, concave first, pull on big toes and plug upper arm into the shoulder socket, bring back body in, then maintaining concavity as much as possible lengthen trunk down

Padahastasana - broaden hamstrings, press inner heels to bring outer femurs in, concave first, pull up on bottoms of feet and plug upper arm into the shoulder socket, bring back body in, then maintaining concavity as much as possible lengthen trunk down

Parsvottanasna to Urdhva Prasarita Ekapadasana back to Parsvottanasana - broaden hamstrings, press front leg inner foot down to bring outer femur in, concave first, then walk hands forward as far as possible, take head down, marry trunk to thigh. Step into UPEP and pull trunk down, step back to Parsvottanasana

Adho Mukha Vrksasana - from Adho Mukha Svanasana, bring back body in, come up high on toes, maintain back body in as you walk in and kick up. Bring back body in, broaden hamstrings and lift tailbone and buttocks up thru the inner heels

Sirsasana at the wall - keep shoulders lifted, lift sternum toward abdomen, broaden hamstrings and lift tailbone and buttocks up thru the inner heels

Eka Pada Sirsasana - keep one heel on the wall, lower opposite leg halfway down keeping outer hip lifted

Padangustha Dandasana - manually broaden hamstrings away from each other and move calves forward. Press hamstrings down to lift trunk up, holding big toes, press inner edges of feet forward as you pull arms back into the shoulder socket to bring the backbody in

Paschimottanasana - from Padangustha Dandasana, bend the elbows to the side and lengthen trunk forward maintaining as much concavity as possible

Upavistha Konasana - press hamstrings down, move buttocks down, holding big toes, pull upper arms into shoulders sockets and bring back body in to lift your chest

Janu Sirsasana

Kurmasana - place shoulders under bent knees, press hands down and broaden the chest, press inner knees down and reach inner heels forward as you lengthen your trunk forward

Bharadvajasana I

Setu Bandha Sarvangasana on a brick

Savasana

Beginner Class on Monday, January 10, 2011

2011-01-11T09:34:00.000-06:00

I really enjoyed last night's class and feel like my personal life is finally settling down a bit, so I'm back to blogging sequences! Last night we worked on increasing hip flexion!

Swastikasana - press sitting bones straight down and lift up thru the trunk and crown of the head, roll upper arms back and move the shoulderblades into the back ribs

Adho Mukha Virasana - join big toes and widen knees, sit on your heels (or blanket on your heels), maintain contact of the buttocks to the heels (or blanket) as you extend your trunk and arms forward

Supta Padangusthasana I - bent leg variation

Extend the "down" leg thigh and inner heel forward to descend the leg into the floor, keeping that leg down, bend the opposite knee into the chest
Same as above but with a long belt around the extend leg heel and bent leg groin to maintain the levelness of the hips

Adho Mukha Virasana

Malasana - sacrum at the wall - press your inner heels down and descend your thighs as you lift up thru the sides of your trunk, pull the upper arms back to broaden the chest

Malasana - heels on blanket - work down from two folded blankets to as low as possible - same actions as above

Adho Mukha Virasana

Supta Padangusthasana I - extend "down" leg thru the inner heel, keeping that thigh low, bent the opposite knee to chest and belt the foot, press foot into belt to move hip and femur forward, keeping that action extend the knee (don't take more belt than you need!)

Adho Mukha Virasana

Adho Mukha Svanasana -

heels at the wall: press your heels down and back into the wall to lift the thighs and move the front thighs into the back thighs
hands at the wall with a partner holding blocks into the upper hamstring: stongly press your hamstrings into the blocks
hands at the wall independently

Adho Mukha Virasana

Marichyasana I - twist only

Paschimottanasana

Savasana - feet into a bolster at the wall, head supported on a folded blanket

Becky's Birthday Request Class: Backbends on Thursday, October 7, 2010!

2010-10-08T10:13:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to Becky, one of my favorite people! I've taught saxophone to two of her amazing children, Ben and Katie, and now I have the pleasure of working with Becky in yoga class every Thursday.

Here's the backbend sequence we practiced in her honor:

Supta Baddha Konasana with the shoulderblades on a block in the "Dandasana" position crosswise - press the shoulderblades into the back body to bring the dorsal spine in and open the chest, press the outer heels together to stretch the knees apart to open the inner thighs

Paryankasana with the block in the "Tadasana" position spinewise in the upper thoracic spine and with the legs straight in Dandasana position - begin with the hands interlaced behind the head and then if the neck feels good take the arms into Urdhva Hastasana position (toward the floor), press the thighs down to lengthen the trunk

Supta Virasana with buttocks and trunk on support, knees supported on blankets if necessary, then take one leg up into Supta Padangusthasana I - keep the tailbone in and the thighs stretching forward, move the shoulderblades into the back to lift the dorsal spine and open the chest. When the leg is extended in Supta Padangusthasana I, keep the lumbar long (the leg won't come up as high) and the opposite knee down

Paryankasana - press the buttock bones, forearms, and crown of the head down to lift the shoulderblades and dorsal spine up

Bekasana - first one leg bent, opposite hand in Chaturanga Dandasana position; then one leg bent, turning palm of hand forward; then both legs - keep the tailbone in and the front-groins down!, move the upper arms up as you bring the shoulderblades into the back to take the the dorsal spine in and open and lift the chest, stretch the thighs back

Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana on a chair - first with two lengthwise folded blankets under the front legs of the chair, arms through the chair holding the back legs of the chair, feet at the wall; next same but with the two blankets under the back legs of the chair - move the upper arms down and the shoulderblades in to open the chest, press the thighs down and move the tailbone in

Eka Pada Viparita Dandasana on a chair - foot belted, taking the arms into Urdhva Hastasana position (toward the floor) - move the shoulderblades and dorsal spine in to open the chest, press the lifted-leg's femur into the hamstring and press the opposite thigh down

Pinca Mayurasana - first prep, with partner lifting trapezius with their shins, making sure shoulders stay above elbows; then full pose at the wall - press the forearms down to move the shoulders up and dorsal spine in, lift the thighs and groins up as you walk in on your toes, then kick up and extend up through the legs and move the buttocks toward the heels to lengthen the trunk up

Sirsasana - also Ekapada Sirsasana - press the forearms down to lift the shoulders and to take the dorsal spine in, extend up through the legs and lift the buttocks, keep these these actions as you extend one leg half-way down, press the forearms down to lift the shoulders as you re-join the feet

Adho Mukha Virasana

Adho Mukha Svanasana

Ekapada Rajakapotasana preparation - "shin up the wall" with the toes tucked under, knee under the heel, hand holding a chair - move the tailbone in and lift the pubic bones up as you bent your forward knee, keep moving that foot forward as you move the buttocks down, pull the chair down to lift and open the chest

Front leg in Ekapada Rajakapotasana on a chair at a wall, back leg straight as in Vimanasana (toes tucked under) - draw the outer thighs into the hip sockets to pin the femurs in and lift the trunk, lift the back-leg's inner thigh up, draw the upper arms back and shoulderblades and dorsal spine in to open the chest

Ekapada Rajakapotasana with back toes at the wall and buttock supported on bolster or folded blanket, belt the back foot - pull the outer thighs into the hip sockets to lift the trunk, move the tailbone in and the pubic bones up to lengthen the lumbar spine, move the shoulderblades and dorsal spine in to open the chest, holding the belt near the ankle, rotate the down and laterally then up to further open the chest, take the 2nd hand up to meet the 1st one

Adho Mukha Svanasana

Supported Halasana on a chair - thighs supported on the chair seat with blankets

Savasana

Intermediate Class on Wednesday, September 8, 2010

2010-09-09T15:03:00.000-05:00

Here's what we did on Wednesday (and what we'll likely do tonight in the Lewisville class). Happy Practicing!

Swastikasana - keeping the groins soft, draw outer knees to outer hips to pin the femurs ino the hip-socket and lift the trunk, open the chest

Adho Mukha Virasana - keeping forearms and upper arms lifted, take dorsal spine in and move sternum forward

Adho Mukha Svanasana - keeping forearms lifted, take dorsal spine in, lift and press the thighs back to lengthen the trunk

Uttanasana - press outer edge of foot down to lift and pin the femurs into the hip-socket, press inner heel and big-toe ball-joint down to lift and move inner thighs back, keeping that take the dorsal spine in and lengthen the trunk down

Supta Padangusthasana I - begin in Supta Tadasana and extend the inner heels and big-toe ball-joint forward to move inner thighs down, keeping the left inner thigh down bend the right knee into the chest and belt the foot, reach the right inner heel forward into the belt to move the right front groin forward, pin the femurs in, keeping the right groin moving forward and femurs extend the inner right heel up to straighten the leg, pull upper arms into sockets to open the chest. (change sides)

Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana - keeping the left (standing leg) back, bend the right knee and belt the foot, keeping the left thigh back press the foot down and into the belt to descend the right groin, draw from the outer knees toward the hips to pin the femurs into the hip-sockets, extend thru the inner heels and straighten the right leg, extend the trunk up and draw the upper arms into the shoulder-sockets to open the chest. (change sides)

Parsvottanasana - press outer left heel down and press right big-toe and inner heel down to lift the thighs up, pin the femurs in and extend the trunk, keeping the leg actions, extend the trunk forward, take the upper arms into the shoulder-sockets and the dorsal spine in, then extend the trunk forward and down

Parivrtta Trikonasana - same leg actions as Parsvottanasana, place hand on brick and roll opposite shoulder back to turn trunk, take upper arms into shoulder-sockets and open the chest

Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana - from Parivrtta Trikonasana, bend the front leg, walk the hand out and pin the femurs into the hip sockets, keep this as you lift the back leg and straighten the standing leg, extend thru the heels. Lift the outer pelvis of the lifted leg up, press your hand down onto the floor, and roll the opposite shoulder back to twist the trunk

Virabhadrasana I - press feet down to lift thighs up and pin outer femurs in, extend up thru the trunk and descend the buttocks away from the lumbar, maintain the pinning of the femurs as you bend your knee into the pose

Virabhadrasana III - from Virabhadrasana I, keep the femurs pinned, extend the trunk over and onto the thigh, step in with the back foot and pin the femurs in again, maintain that as you lift the back leg and extend thru the inner heels to straighten both legs, extend the trunk and arms forward

Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana (on chair) - slide back until the armpits are in line with the edge of the chair-seat, pull the upper arms back into the shoulder-sockets and coil the chest over the edge of the chair, extend the inner heels into the wall, roll the thighs in, and press the thighs down, keeping the buttocks lengthened away from the lumbar spine, tailbone in

Eka Pada Viparita Dandasana (on chair) - loop a belt around the right foot and keep the "tail" of the belt over your shoulder (for safekeeping); hook the right knee over the chair back and go thru the chair as in Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana, coil the chest over the edge of the chair and extend the left leg into the wall, straighten the right leg up and pin the outer hips in, holding the belt with both hands extend the arms overhead and towards the floor, resist the right front-thigh toward the chair-back. (other side)

Hanumanasana - place your right heel on a folded sticky mat and your left knee on a blanket on the floor (not on sticky mat), with your hands on blocks slide the left knee back, keeping the trunk upright, roll the left inner thigh up toward the ceiling, and extend thru the right inner heel, pin the femurs in. Keep moving in this manner: 1. roll the back thigh in, 2. pin the femurs in, 3. slide the left knee back, 4. repeat. (other side)

Setu Bandha Sarvangasana on brick - press the upper arms down to lift the chest up, lengthen the buttocks away from the lumbar spine, extend inner heels forward to straighten the legs, roll thighs in and press thighs down

Savasana

Pranayama Class on September 1, 2010

2010-09-02T14:12:00.001-05:00

Here's the sequence from last night's pranayama class. Please reference Light on Pranayama: The Yogic Art of Breathing by BKS Iyengar for information on the specific pranayama techniques we practiced.

Swastikasana - bring the mind to the present by relaxing from the outside, in. Beginning with the annamaya kosa (physical sheath), relax the skin and muscles of the face: the forehead, eyebrows, temples, bridge of the nose, eyelids, hinge of the jaw, lips, throat. Then continue relaxing the sense organs (pranamaya kosa or physiological sheath) by softening the eyes, inner ears, sinuses, and root of the tongue. Observe the quality of the mind after this deliberate relaxation of the face and senses.

Savasana with feet at the wall, trunk on a bolster, head supported on a tri-fold or bi-fold blanket - attain relaxation (of the face, throat, diaphragm, nerves...) Notice the depth of the chest and the separation of the armpit-chest from the armpit-arm.

Savasana same as above, adding a looped belt around the upper humerus of both arms behind the back (like a jacket)

Ujjayi I - attain relaxation, observe the improved opening of the chest that the the belt gives, observe the breath without altering it, at any time if relaxation is lost, go back to the practice of attaining relaxation
Ujjayi II (inhalations) - perform Ujjayi I first, then exhale normally, feeling the abdomen recede toward the spine. Bring your awareness to the bottom of the rib cage and inhale slowly, smoothly, and deeply from the bottom ribs up the trunk, expanding the mid-ribs and top-chest. Then, exhale normally with awareness on the abdomen receding inward. Take 3 to 5 normal, recovery breaths to regain any relaxation that was lost.

Savasana with feet at the wall, trunk on a bolster, head supported on a tri-fold or bi-fold blanket (no arm belt)

Viloma I - perform Ujjayi I first, then exhale normally, feeling the abdomen recede toward the spine. Bring your awareness to the bottom of the rib cage and inhale slowly into the bottom ribs, pause, continue to inhale into the mid-ribs, pause, inhale into the top-chest, pause, then exhale normally with awareness on the abdomen receding inward. Take 3 to 5 normal, recovery breaths to regain any relaxation that was lost.

Swastikasana with the back to the wall, thighs supported on blankets, hands supported on blanket - keeping the chest open by moving upper arms back into the wall and moving the shoulderblades into the back-body, lift the chin and take the base of the neck down and into the body (C-7); keeping C-7 in, lower the head into Jalandara Bandha.

Ujjayi inhalations - same as in supine position, with awareness on keeping the lift of the trunk and chest
Brahmari - exhale normally, feeling the abdomen recede toward the spine. Bring your awareness to the bottom of the rib cage and inhale slowly, smoothly, and deeply from the bottom ribs up the trunk, expanding the mid-ribs and top-chest. Then, exhale creating a humming sound, vibrating the mask. Take 3 to 5 normal, recovery breaths to regain any relaxation that was lost.

Savasana, flat

Restorative Class on Monday, August 30, 2010

2010-08-31T08:02:00.000-05:00

Here is the restorative sequence we did in the Beginner Class last night:

Swastikasana - observe the quality of the mind, relax the facial muscles and features, soften the sense organs, then re-observe the quality of the mind

Supta Virasana - 3 minutes

Adho Mukha Virasana - 3 minutes

Supta Baddha Konasana - 5 minutes

Cross-Bolsters Setu Bandha Sarvangasana - 5 minutes

Chair Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana (head supported) - 5 minutes

Uttanasana with bolster over chair back in hip-crease - 3 minutes

Chair Sarvangasana - 8 minutes

Savasana, feet into a bolster at the wall - 10 minutes

Mixed Level on Sunday, August 29, 2010

2010-08-29T21:12:00.001-05:00

Today's class focused on seated poses and opening the joints of the feet and ankles. Enjoy!

Swastikasana - maintain even lift of the front and back of pelvis as you extend up through the sides of the trunk

Adho Mukha Virasana - keep heels on buttocks as you extend the trunk forward

Adho Mukha Svanasana - reach down through the outer heels and back through the inner heels as you take your thighs back to lengthen the trunk

Uttanasana - feet mat's-width apart, concave spine, then head down

Tadasana

Virasana - keep shins facing straight down, draw outer ankles in as you sit between your feet on the floor or support, observe sensations in feet, ankles, knees, hips, and low back

Supta Virasana - from Virasana, extend trunk back, lengthen buttocks away from low back, observe sensations in feet, ankles, knees, hips, and low back

Vajrasana - sit on the heels with the knees and feet together

Belt around ankles with toes pointed straight back
Belt around ankles with toes tucked under
Feet crossed, top of one foot in the arch of opposite foot
Belt around ankles with toes pointed straight back, toes on rolled blanket

Virasana - observe sensations in feet, ankles, knees, hips, and low back and compare to previous attempt of the pose

Supta Virasana - observe sensations in feet, ankles, knees, hips, and low back and compare to previous attempt of the pose

Lolasana - from hands and knees, cross top of one shin just above calf of opposite leg, keep both feet pointing straight back as you sit on your heels, place hands next to mid-thighs and press hands down as you round your shoulders, low back, and raise your kness to your chest and heels to your buttocks

Gomukhasana - from hands and knees, cross one knee completely behind and to the outside of opposite knee; keep feet pointing directly back as you sit on your heels, lowering hips evenly down; add support under buttocks if necessary and then complete the pose by performing Gomukhasana arms

Baddha Konasana - roll shins forward and down toward the floor

Mulabandhasana - join big- and little- toe ball joints, slide hips down wall to sit on block, with hands move heels forward as the knees widen, lower block as you are able

Vamedevasana

Paschimottanasana

Savasana

Mixed Level on Sunday, August 1, 2010

2010-08-02T07:39:00.000-05:00

Swastikasana - extend from inner thighs to inner knees and draw back from outer knees into outer hips to compact the hips and lift the trunk

Siddhasana - roll the thighs and calf flesh from inside out as you place the heels in line with the pubis; extend from inner thighs to inner knees and draw back from outer knees into outer hips as you press the thighs down to lift the trunk; pull on the knees with the hands as you plug the upper arms into the shoulder sockets as you draw the shoulderblades down and into the back-body to open and lift the chest

Baddha Konasana - sitting on 2 folded blankets, roll the thighs out, extend from inner thighs to inner knees, widening the knees, as you pull from the outer knees back into the outer hips, press the thighs down and the outer heels together to further widen the knees apart, press hands down to lift trunk and draw upper arms into the shoulder sockets to open the chest, repeat with the block between the feet (all 3 widths) and with block under the feet (all 3 heights), then do classic pose flat on floor (or on blankets if the knees are higher than the hips)

Supta Padangusthasana II - draw the front thigh down into the hip crease and draw from the outer knee back into the hip socket, compacting the hips, as you extend from inner thigh to inner heel, keep sacrum even on floor

Virabhadrasana II - back foot at the wall, roll thighs out, press outer heels down to draw up from outer knees to outer hips, compacting the hips, press more into the bent-leg heel to lift the pubis up and away from the inner thigh of the bent leg

Utthita Parsvakonasana - in Virabhadrasana II: place a block between the wall and the head of your bent-leg shin, step the back leg back until the shin is vertical and the thigh is horizontal, press the inner knee into the block firmly and pull the outer knee away from the block, roll the back leg out and move the femur into the hamstring, press the bent-leg heel down to lift the pubis up and away from the bent leg, extend trunk toward wall into Utthita Parsvakonasana, keeping the actions of the legs, especially pressing the inner knee into the block and pull the outer knee away from the block to bring the outer thigh into the hip socket

Ardha Chandrasana - 1st time: place lifted-leg's foot on the wall with the standing leg vertical, hand on a block. Press the outer heel of standing leg down to firm outer thigh up and into the hip socket, then press inner heel down to move the inner thigh forward, bringing the standing-leg hip underneath you more, lift the top hip up, press hand down onto block and roll opposite shoulder back to turn trunk. 2nd time: with a partner, same as above, partner places belt around the top of the thigh of the standing leg and pull the outer thigh back toward the wall, moving the thigh back and turning in outward

Utthita Trikonasana to Ardha Chandrasana - classic asana, same actions as above with special attention to keeping the hips compact just before lifting into Ardha Chandrasana

Salamba Sarvangasana
Eka Pada Sarvangasana
Parsvaika Pada Sarvangasana
Halasana
Karnapidasana
Savasana

Philosophy Discussion Group Taking a Break

2010-07-27T13:46:00.000-05:00

The philosophy discussion group will not meet again until September 5, 2010. We will then resume our Sunday evening meetings from 6-6:20 pm prior to the Iyengar class.

Please spread the word!

Mixed Level on Sunday, July 25, 2010

2010-07-27T13:24:00.000-05:00

Tonight we are focusing on twists! One of the challenges of twisting poses is keeping the extension of the trunk so we focused on using the legs and arms to create the desired effects in the torso: rotation with extension.

Vajrasana with ankles belted and blanket behind knees
Virasana I and II, outer ankles in
Virasana forward
Adho Mukha Svanasana, heels at wall
Adho Mukha Svanasana, heels on corner of blocks at wall, lift soles of feet off floor, pull thighs up into the hip crease to make it more of a crease, press hands down and forward to extend the shoulders and trunk
Uttanasana, concave spine, block behind calf at wall, pull thighs up into the hip crease, pull the floor toward you to move the shoulderblades back toward the hips and the sternum forward
Supta Padangusthasana I, II, and IV, pull front thigh and outer thigh up into the hip crease, pull the upper arms down into the floor to broaden the chest and move shoulderblades up and into the back-body to lift the sternum
Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana, pull front thigh into the hip crease, plug upper arms into the shoulder-socket and draw the shoulderblades down and into the back-body to open the chest
Parsva Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana, pull front thigh and outer thigh up into the hip crease, pull upper arm back into the shoulder-socket and move shoulderblades down and into the back-body to open the chest
Parsvottanasana, concave spine, heel at the wall, pull front thigh and outer thigh up into the hip crease, pull the floor toward you to move the upperarms and shoulder-blades toward the waist and move the shoulderblades down into the back-body to open chest
Utthita Trikonasana, heel at the wall, pull outer thigh up into the hip crease, pull upper arms into the shoulder-sockets, press hand down on floor or block and extend thru opposite arm to broaden the chest, take shoulderblades into the back-body to open chest
Parivrtta Trikonasana, heel at the wall, pull front thigh and outer thigh up into the hip crease, pull upper arms into the shoulder-sockets, press hand down on floor or block and extend thru opposite arm to broaden the chest, take shoulderblades into the back-body to open chest
Adho Mukha Svanasana
Marichyasana III, pull from outer knee of bent leg down and into the hip crease, press upper arm into outer thigh and roll opposite shoulder back to turn the trunk
Uttanasana
Salamba Sarvangasana I
Eka Pada Sarvangasana
Parsvaika Pada Sarvangasnaa
Halasana
Parsva Halasana
Savasana

Restorative Class on Monday, July 26, 2010

2010-07-27T10:50:00.002-05:00

This sequence is adapted from a John Schumacher class that you can purchase from www.ihanuman.com. Check it out!

Swastikasana
Adho Mukha Virasana (5 min)
Adho Mukha Svanasana, head supported (2 min)
Uttanasana, head supported (2 min)
Sirsasana (5 min) or Prasarita Padottanasana, head supported
Chair Sarvangasana (7 min)
Supta Baddha Konasana, on at least two blankets, thighs supported (10 min)
Supta Swastikasana, on at least two blankets, legs belted (5 min per side)
Savasana, (10 min) heels into a bolster at the wall, head on a folded blanket

Maitri Karuna Mudita Upeksanam

2010-07-27T10:38:00.003-05:00

Sunday's discussion group was focused around the idea of how we react to those around us in a way that brings peace of mind. Patanjali's 33rd Sutra of the 1st pada (chapter) spells out 4 strategies:

I.33 maitri karuna mudita upeksanam sukha dukha punya apunya visayanam bhavanatah cittaprasadanam

Through cultivation of friendliness, compassion, joy and indifference to pleasure and pain, virtue and vice respectively, the consciousness becomes favourably disposed, serene and benevolent

maitri	friendliness
karuna	compassion, mercy
mudita	gladness, joy
upeksanam	to be indifferent and apathetic, to look at things without interest
sukha	happiness
duhkha	sorrow
punya	virtue
apunya	vice
visayanam	regarding an object, concerning a thing
bhavanatah	conception, remembrance, infusion, recollection, thoughtfulness
cittaprasadanam	graceful diffusion of the consciousness, favourable disposition

“This sutra asks us to rejoice with the happy, to be compassionate to the sorrowful, friendly to the virtuous, and indifferent to those who continue to live in vice despite attempts to change them....This approach to life keeps the mind on the [practitioner] serene and pure.” ~BKS Iyengar, Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

Rejoice with the Happy - How do I act when others are happy? Do I celebrate their happiness? Do I feel jealous?
Be Compassionate to the Sorrowful - How do I respond to others sadness? Do I empathize? Pass judgment? Do I try to become the center of attention?
Be Friendly to the Virtuous - How do I feel about other that are honorable and ethical? Do I feel positively to them? or somehow feel like I don't measure up? Do you ever feel that others are "too nice" or "too good"?
Be Indifferent to the Unethical - Do I get emotionally attached to the faults of others? Do I judge them and drag myself into their drama? Can I let go of my desire to feel superior?

33 Birthday Backbends! Intermediate Class on July 21, 2010

2010-07-22T08:54:00.002-05:00

Backbends are FUN! and we did a LOT of them yesterday. Remember to keep your tailbone in, your trunk long, and your chest open. Work on keeping the buttock-hamstring connection strong and the shoulder-neck clarity clear!

Adho Mukha Virasana

Adho Mukha Svanasana

step to Parsvottanasana, walk hands forward, turn to Prasarita Padottanasana (head down), turn to other side of Parsvottanasana with hands forward

Adho Mukha Vrksasana - kick up 10 times per side

"Surya Namaskar"-style jumpings (include Tadasana, Uttanasana, Adho Mukha Svanasana, Chaturanga Dandasana, and Urdhva Mukha Svanasana x6) with feet leaving floor every time!

Shoulder work in Tadasana - Urdhva Hastasana, Urdhva Baddhanguliasana, Gomukhasana arms, Paschima Baddhanguliasana, Paschima Baddha Hastasana, Paschima Namaskarasana

Salabhasana (x3)

Salabhasana II (better look it up in Light on Yoga if you aren't familiar with this version) (x3) - tailbone in!, marry the bottom buttock to the hamstring and the hamstring to the buttock

Dhanurasana (x3)

Ustrasana (x3) - reach back through inner thighs, ankles, big toes

Dhanurasana (x3 - again, I know; it's not a typo)

Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana on a chair

Hands under chair holding back bar, legs straight
Arms in Urdhva Hastasana, legs straight
Walk hands to front legs of chair, legs bent - outer elbows in, plug arms into shoulder sockets, move shoulderblades toward waist and into the back-body

Urdhva Dhanurasana - on 2 bolsters, or hands on blocks, or from the floor, whatever you need! (x6)

Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana - elbows at the wall, legs bent (x3) (or repeat Urdhva Dhanurasana x3)

Adho Mukha Virasana
Adho Mukha Svanasana
Adho Mukha Virasana
Parsva Adho Mukha Virasana
Prone Savasana

Beginner Class on Monday, July 19, 2010

2010-07-21T07:38:00.000-05:00

The focus of this class is "concave spine" by taking the upper arms back and the shoulderblades away from the neck and in towards the back-body.

Swastikasana - bring hands into Hasta Vakrasana (arms like a cactus - Hasta means arms and Vakra means crooked or bent) and tip fingers back and move the shoulderblades into the back-body to open the chest. Keep the shoulderblades cutting into the back-body as you join your hands in Namaskarasana.

Dandasana - Press thighs and hands down to lengthen up through the sides of the trunk. Roll the outer upper arms back to bring the shoulderblades into the back-body to open the chest.

Padangustha Dandasana - holding a belt around your feet, press the thighs down to lift the trunk up and pull the upper arms back into the shoulder-socket to bring the shoulderblades and dorsal spine into the back-body to open the chest.

Adho Mukha Virasana - press the hands down and lift the undersides of the arms up, keeping the arms lifting away from the floor move the shoulderblades and dorsal spine down, into the back-body, and forward to open the chest

Adho Mukha Svanasana - charge hands down and forward as you pull the roots of the thighs back to lengthen the trunk, keeping the arms lifted, bring the shoulderblades into the back-body

Uttanasana - concave spine - press feet down to lift thighs up, press thighs back to lengthen trunk forward, pull hands as if to pull the floor toward you to move shoulderblades toward the waist and to take the chest forward

Padangusthasana - concave spine - press feet down to lift thighs up, press thighs back to lengthen trunk forward; pull on big toes or belt to plug upper arms into the shoulder-sockets and take shoulderblades deeply into the back-body to open chest

Prasarita Padottanasana - concave spine - same actions as concave spine Uttanasana

Parsvottanasana - concave spine - same actions as concave spine Uttanasana

Adho Mukha Svanasana - feet at wall - 1st time: press heels back and into wall to take thighs back; 2nd time: partnes hold blocks against the backs of the hamstrings just below the buttock bones, press your hamstrings into the blocks to take the thighs back to lengthen the trunk; 3rd time: same as the 1st time but working as if you were still pressing into the blocks.

Chaturanga Dandasana - feet at wall - press heels into the wall and lift hamstrings up toward ceiling, move buttocks away from the lumbar spine and bring tailbone deeply in between legs, press hands down and roll outer upper arms up toward ceiling, cut shoulderblades into the back-body, keeping all of these actions, press hands and feet down to lift trunk off of the floor.

Bhujangasana - roll thighs in, manually adjust pubic bone forward and move tailbone in, join legs. Press feet, tailbone, and hands down as you roll outer upper arms back and cut shoulderblades and dorsal spine into the back-body. Press hands down and forward to lift chest, pull floor toward you as you did in Prasarita Padottanasana to move chest forward.

Urdhva Mukha Svanasana - 1st time: toes tucked under as in Chaturanga Dandasana and hands on blocks, press thighs up, press tailbone down and forward, as you press the hands down to lift the trunk, roll the outer upper arms back and cut the shoulderblades and dorsal spine into the back-body. 2nd time: toes pointed. (What do these different foot positions offer? Practice and see!)

Ustrasana - knees hips'-width apart at wall - 1st time: press shins down and back to bring hamstring forward and up and tailbone down and in. Move the buttocks away from the lumbar as you walk your bottom front ribs up the wall. Keeping the ribs at the wall roll the outer upper arms back and cut the shoulderblades and dorsal spine into the back-body. 2nd time: same as 1st time, then coil chest back, keeping it well-lifted and pubic bone at the wall, press hands down on heels or bolster and open chest furthur.

Parsva Uttanasana

Adho Mukha Svanasana

Adho Mukha Virasana

Adho Mukha Vajrasana

Salamba Sarvangasana - press outer upper arms down and lift the shoulderblades up and into the back-body to lift and open the trunk and chest. Move buttocks up and away from the lumbar spine and stretch up through your inner heels.

Savasana

The 5 Qualitatvie Types of Consciousness

2010-07-19T08:13:00.001-05:00

At any given moment the intelligence can have one of the following qualities: dull, distracted, agitated, attentive, or restrained. One of the ways to develop introspection is to notice when the consciousness is not in a state of yoga, or oneness. By noticing how you feel you can begin to determine what triggers the state you are in and work toward eliminating the causes of the fluctuations of the mind.

Mudha - silly, stupid, ignorant, dullness, a foolish or dull state
Ksipta - neglected or distracted, a mental force which is scattered, a state of disarray or neglect
Viksipta - agitated or scattered, neither marshalled nor controlled
Ekagra - one-pointed or closely attentive
Niruddha - restrained or controlled

When have I felt each of these qualitative states of mind?
Is there a common occurrence that disrupts my peace of mind?
What do I do when I notice that I am feeling dull? distracted? agitated?
How do I begin to shift the quality of my intelligence toward restraint?

Mixed Level on Sunday, July 18, 2010

2010-07-19T08:04:00.001-05:00

It's backbend week once again at the Yoga Hut!

Swastikasana
Adho Mukha Virasana - press hands down and lift arms away from floor and bring dorsal spine and shoulderblades down and into the back-body
Adho Mukha Svanasana - press hands down and thighs back to lengthen trunk
Uttanasana - concave spine first, keeping the entire front body lengthening away from the thighs, take the trunk and head down
Adho Mukha Svanasana - hands at the wall, press the hands down and forward and pull the thighs up and back to lengthen the trunk, stretch the armpits open
Adho Mukha Vrksasana - 1st time - Ardha, walking up the wall. Press hands down and lift thighs up to lengthen trunk just as in Adho Mukha Svanasana, take shoulders and chest toward the wall to open the shoulders and chest. 2nd time - classic asana kicking up, lift head and look at feet to open chest and shoulders furthur, keeping chest lifted, release head down
Pinca Mayurasana - preparation - press forearms down and forward to lift shoulders up, walk feet in (like Adho Mukha Svanasana) keeping shoulders over elbows by pressing forearms down to lift shoulders and shoulderblades up, keep hips high bringing them over the shoulders
Sirsasana - press forearms down to lift up shoulders and side chest, stretch up through buttocks and thighs to lift trunk up
Supta Virasana - lengthen buttocks and thighs forward to lengthen lumbar spine, lengthen trunk and arms toward the head side, press upper arm bones down to open chest
Paryankasana - from Virasana, come back onto elbow, press elbows down to lift chest up, walk elbows in (toward feet) and continue to press elbows down to lift trunk, bring crown of head to floor, extend arms in Baddha Hastasana over head, press buttock bones down, press elbows down and lift shoulderblades to open the chest
Bhekasana - 1st time - Ardha (no spin of hand), keep one hand in Chaturanga Dandasana position, bring tailbone in as you press your heel to your buttock, bending your elbow, press both hands down to lift the chest. 2nd time - Ardha, spin fingers forward. 3rd time - both legs, no turn of hands. 3rd time - both legs, turn fingers forward
Bhujangasana - push hands down and forward for lift of chest, pull hands down and back to move dorsal spine in, alternate pushing and pulling to maximize lift and openning of the chest (ratchet yourself up)
Dhanurasana - tailbone in!, press shins back and lift knees up to lift chest, move dorsal spine in
Adho Mukha Svanasana - lengthen trunk
Adho Mukha Virasana - lengthen trunk
Adho Mukha Vajrasana - knees together, lengthen trunk
Salamba Sarvangasana near wall - press elbows down (as in Paryankasana) to lift and open chest, lift buttocks up, tailbone in and stretch up through legs
Setu Bandha Sarvangasana dropping to wall or floor from Sarvangasana - press elbows down to open chest, keep tailbone in as you bend your knees, bringing your heels to your buttocks, keeping tailbone in stretch knees up to ceiling to open front hips and groins, keeping elbows pressing down and chest lifted and tailbone in, curl back and bring your feet to the wall or floor
Savasana

Intermediate Class on Wednesday, July 14, 2010

2010-07-15T16:13:00.001-05:00

Twists, galore!

Vajrasana with belt around ankles and blanket behind knees
Adho Mukha Virasana
Adho Mukha Svanasana
Baddha Hasta Uttanasana
Supta Padangusthasana I, III, and IV - press thighs from front thigh to back thigh; in Supta IV, resist outer knee of lifted leg back into the hip-socket
Jathara Parivartanasana, legs bent - plug from outer knee of top leg into outer hip-socket to rotate pelvis toward the ceiling
Parivrtta Parsvakonasana - from a lunge position
Sirsasana
Adho Mukha Virasana
Gomukhasana
Parsva Janu Sirsasana
Marichyasana III
Salamba Sarvangasana
Parsva Halasana - plug from outer knee of trailing leg into outer hip-socket to rotate the pelvis forward
Savasana

Beginner Class on Monday, July 12, 2010

2010-07-15T15:54:00.001-05:00

On Monday, we focused on hip flexion!

Here's the sequence:

Swastikasana - balance the pelvis by coming to the center of the buttock bones; feel the length and lift of both the front of the pelvis and the lumbar spine
Adho Mukha Virasana - press hands down and forward to maintain contact of hips to heels
Ardha Uttanasana with hands at the wall - press heels down to lift thighs up, press root of thigh back and hands forward into wall to lengthen trunk
Tadasana - press heels down to lift thighs up and move root of thigh back; lift the front of the pelvis up maintaining the thighs back
Urdhva Hastasana in Tadasana - keep thighs lifted and root of thigh back as you raise your arms; lift the front of the pelvis up maintaining the thighs back
Utkatasana - keep weight in heels, descend thighs and lift front of pelvis up so there is length on both front- and back-bodies
Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana preparation - standing near a wall for balance, bend the right knee and hold the big toe, lift left thigh up, move root of left thigh back, and pressing the right foot down into your clasp, lower the left buttock bone toward the floor, maintaining the lift of the left thigh and root of left thigh back. Keep outer left hip in toward the mid-line of the body. (perform other side)
Virabhadrasana I - keeping outer right hip in toward the mid-line of the body, press heels down to lift front of pelvis up to lengthen the trunk up
Prasarita Padottanasana - concave phase only; maintain lift of thighs and root of thighs moving back as you lengthen the trunk (including the pubic bone) forward
Uttanasana
Adho Mukha Svanasana
Malasana - heels on blanket roll, press heels down, release thighs down, lift trunk up
Marichyasana I - both hands holding foot, press root of thigh and foot down to lift and lengthen trunk forward
Paschimottanasana - press roots of thighs down
Adho Mukha Virasana
Savasana

Mixed Level on Sunday July 11, 2010

2010-07-11T21:59:00.003-05:00

I'm so excited to be back in town to teach awesome yoga students! I am so grateful for you. Today's class focuses on "eka pada" actions in standing poses and forward bends; specifically, keeping the depth of the groins by rolling your thighs in and "pinning" the outer thighs in as you draw the tailbone in.

Here's what we did:

Swastikasana

Adho Mukha Virasana

Adho Mukha Svanasana

Uttanasana

Tadasana

Urdhva Baddhanguliasasa in Tadasana

Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana - 1. bent knee only: keep standing thigh lifted and pulling to midline, keep standing-thigh back, press inner edge of bent-leg foot down to move buttock bone and groin down, "pin" hips in to lift trunk, pull arms into shoulder sockets to open chest. 2. Classic pose

Urdhva Prasarita Ekapadasana - concave phase only, keep standing-leg thigh lifted and drawn back and to mid-line as you lift opposite leg; move slowly so you can "catch" when you lose the correct action of standing leg

Virabhadrasana I - keep "front-leg" hip "pinned" to mid-line as you enter the pose

Virabhadrasana III - keep "front-leg" hip pinned to mid-line in all phases of entering the pose

Parivrtta Trikonasana - keep"front-leg" hip pinned to mid-line as you bring the tailbone, spine, and head all in one central line, lift both thighs and pin both outer-thighs in to project your trunk forward

Urdhva Prasarita Ekapadasana - 1. head and trunk down, hands on floor. 2. From Adho Mukha Svanasana, place lifted-leg's toes on wall, pin hips in, and rotate lifted-leg thigh in

Triang Mukhaikapada Paschimottanasana

Paschimottanasana - feet apart

Uttanasana - feet apart

Setu Bandha Sarvangasana - sacrum on block

Savasana

Learning the Sanskrit Names of Poses

2010-07-11T21:38:00.004-05:00

If you have ever struggled with learning the Sanskrit names of the poses we do in class, knowing some basic root words might help you get started.

Body Parts:

Anga - limb
Angustha - big toe
Bhuja - shoulder
Hasta - arm or hand
Janu - knee
Karna - ear
Mukha - face
Pada - leg or foot
Sirsa - head

Numbers:

Ardha - half
Eka - one
Dwi - two
Tri - three
Chatur - four

Adjectives:

Urdhva - upward
Adho - downward
Purvo - eastward or anterior
Paschi - westward or posterior
Prasarita - spreading or extending
Uttana - intense [stretch]
Sarva - all
Supta - supine
Parivrtta - revolved
Parsva - side
Baddha - bound
Upavistha - seated

Common Yoga Nouns:

Asana - pose
Svan - dog
Chandra - moon
Dhanura - bow
Garuda - eagle
Go - cow
Nava - boat
Tada - mountain
Vira - hero
Virabhadra - Warrior
Vrk - tree

Cooling Summer Class with Patricia Walden on 7/6/10

2010-07-07T14:28:00.001-05:00

On the only night I had off on the whole concert band tour, Patricia Walden taught a 2.5 hour class in the same town I was in! Yay for yoga and serendipity! The class was located at St. Mary's Orthodox Church in Cambridge, MA, and I had the pleasure of attending. The room was nice and big, but pretty warm. Patricia didn't want the air conditioning on during the pranayama and supine poses, but it was (thankfully) turned on just after those poses were completed.

The focus of the practice was cooling (it was probably 95 degrees in Boston yesterday) forward bends. She made a point that during hot summer weather we should avoid practicing strenuous standing poses and backbends unless we get up early enough to avoid the heat. She also made sure we understood how to approach poses differently when the focus is to cool and calm the mind and body; that is, to work from the skin rather than the musculo-skeletal system.

So here's what we did (any omissions or lack of clarity is entirely due to my memory and experience of the class):

Swastikasana - We were instructed to observe the state of our consciousness. Was it ksipta (scattered), mudha (dull), viksipta (agitated or distracted), ekagra (one-pointed), or niruddha (restrained)? If it was scattered, dull, or agitated, which of the kleshas were involved? Attachment? Aversion? Fear? Egoism?

Sithali Pranayama in Supta Swastikasana with arms in Urdhva Baddha Hastasana, Supta Baddha Konasana (holding ankles if possible), and Dwi Pada Pavanmuktasana - roll the tongue into a tube or straw (if unable to roll the tongue, make an "oooh" shape with the lips as if drinking thru a straw), inhale thru the mouth with the tongue rolled, close the mouth, and exhale ujjayi exhalations (if unfamiliar with ujjayi, then exhale normally thru the nose). On the inhalations, allow the ribs to broaden from the mid-line. Exhale with awareness first on the lower abdomen, allow the exhalation to be like a cooling wash for the abdomen. Gradually move the focus of the exhalations up the trunk, from lower abdomen to middle abdomen, to lower ribs, to mid-ribs, to upper ribs allowing each area to be cooled by the exhalations.

Adho Mukha Virasana with forearms supported on blankets or a bolster- roll skin of thighs so the back of the thigh turns from inside out, broadening away from the mid-line. Allow the feet to sickle so the groins soften.

Prasarita Padottanasana - begin with concave spine, palms flat, move the skin of the back of the leg up toward the buttock and the skin of the buttock forward toward the kidney as you descend the head at the same rate as the rest of the trunk to the floor or support.

Keeping head down and transitioning with grace, pivot to Parsvottanasana to the right. Lift bottom ribs up, broaden them, and then re-extend forward, head down

Gracefully transition back thru Prasarita Padottanasana to Parsvottanasana to the left and finally return to Prasarita Padottanasana. Hold the outer ankles with the head resting on the floor or support.

Uttanasana, feet wider than hips width apart - come to concave spine first and lengthen the trunk forward, then take trunk and head down. Manually adjust the flesh and skin of the thighs, turning the backs of the legs from inside-out. Move the skin of the buttock and back-body toward the head and the flesh of the back-body toward the waist.

Paschimottanasana, feet apart - same movement of the skin and flesh of the back-body as above. Patricia said this many times in many forward extending poses: find on your front body where you are not extending, circle it with your mind, move there (one inch forward), and then it is tapas that holds it there.

Baddha Konasana - roll flesh of inner thigh and inner calf away from each other. Hold the thigh flesh just above the inner knee, broaden the knees away from each other and roll the thighs back with the hands there.

Janu Sirsasana - bend the right knee into Janu Sirsasana, extend the trunk 90 degrees to the right, over the right knee and feel the even extension of the trunk, incrementally move the trunk counter-clockwise (toward the left leg), continue to observe and correct the evenness of the extension of the trunk, until you are outside the left leg in Parsva Janu Sirsasana. (do other side.)

Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana - The most important action in this pose is to keep the lift of the pubis as in Utthita Parsvakonasana. We usually come into this pose from akasha (space), but today from the earth. Extend forward over the right knee as in Janu Sirsasana (above) and walk hands and trunk toward left leg. Marry the side waist and ribs to the inner thigh as "lover and beloved." Hold foot with hands and extend side ribs evenly. (She threatened to get out weights and put them on the ribs that were sticking up in the air, but she didn't actually do it to anybody.)

Paschimottanasana - Roll backs of legs from inside-out with the hands. Feel the effect of the other forward extensions on this Paschimottanasana. Make the skin of the top thigh thin by pressing the knees down.

Supta Padangusthasana I - keep the thighs like Paschimottanasana (especially the leg on the floor)

Triang Mukhaikapada Paschimottanasana - Patricia announced that even though we weren't going to do this, it would be a good practice to do the same 90 degrees to the side extending the trunk and working forward incrementally as we did in Janu Sirsasana. The first stage of a forward extension is just that, extending forward. For more experienced practitioners, once the trunk is fully extended, then take the lungs and heart down (toward the legs).

Krounchasana - come into the bent leg position (one leg in Virasana, the other thigh into the trunk, shin parallel to the floor) and coordinate the lifting of the lumbar spine up with the extension of the leg. This coordinated movement gives a different effect in the mind. Instead of the movement being driven by the ego, "prayatna saithilya ananta samapattibhyam" or "perfection in an asana is achieved when the effort to perform it becomes effortless and the infinite being within is reached." (Sutra II.47 - thanks to Karen's Sutra Program, it was easy for me to look this up!)

Supta Baddha Konasana, holding ankles, allowing exhalations to rinse the abdomen

Supta Upavistha Konasana - keep the tailbone on the floor

Upavistha Konasana, forward, arms extended straight ahead

Paschimottanasana - final comparison to see what the sequence and practice gives

Uttanasana, we could choose whether to have our feet apart or together - she made a point of saying that after a long sequence of forward extensions, it is good for the back to stand up before twisting

Bharadvajasana I - everybody on two blankets, keeping the head straight ahead, turn the trunk as much as possible, then turn the head in line with the sternum and see how much easier is it to get movement. Keeping the rotation of the trunk turn the head the opposite direction.

Paryankasana - we didn't do this pose, but Patricia said it would be good to do this before Setu Bandha Sarvangasana if time permitted.

Setu Bandha Sarvangasana, sacrum on a block - after the abdomen was "squeezed and soaked" thru the practice of all of the forward bends it is good to create space and opening in Setu Bandha and Paryankasana

From Setu Bandha Sarvangasana, lift legs into Viparita Karani. Practice both with legs together (classic position) and legs in Upavistha Konasana.

Chair Sarvangasana - we didn't do this pose, but Patricia said it would be appropriate in this sequence

Savasana - do Sanmukhi mudra for 30-60 seconds at the beginning of Savasana

Beginning a Home Asana Practice

2010-06-30T20:11:00.000-05:00

I started this blog with the intention of bringing our little Denton TX Iyengar yoga community together and also to encourage students to begin a home asana (yoga posture) practice. I know that it's difficult to start any new habit especially when we become accustomed to being told exactly what to do in class. The first thought I had when starting my own practice was, "What do I do?" Well, here's what I suggest:

Create a space to practice in your home. It doesn't have to be a whole room or even a permanent spot where your mat always resides, but it should be somewhere near a wall and have enough room to lay out your mat fully. Keep your props nearby on a shelf or in a chest or closet so that you can get to them easily. If you want, you can decorate by putting up inspirational photos, quotations, and art to make the space your own.
Write down classes that you took and enjoyed (or knew were good for you even if you didn't enjoy them!) Immediately after class, write down as much of the sequence that you remember. This is a skill that improves with practice. At first you may not remember everything, but with a little practice you'll be able to remember whole sequences. You can draw stick figures or diagrams or write down the names of the poses in English or Sanskrit; it doesn't matter! Also jot down any points that the teacher was making about the actions in the poses so you can work on those ideas at home. If you don't know a pose's name or remember how to do it, ask your teacher or look it up in Light on Yoga.
Set a regular time to practice. Most people have more success with starting a new habit if it becomes a regular part of their day. You might like to practice in the morning or at night--it doesn't matter as long as you feel like you're building a routine. You don't have to practice for the equivalent of a yoga class on your own! Yoga class is a time to learn; home practice is the time to integrate and take things at your own pace. A yoga practice could just be 10 to 15 minutes working on one thing or an hour doing a planned sequence--it's up to you. You'll find that the more you get into the home practice habit the more time you'll want to spend doing asana (postures).
"To plan or not to plan?"--that is the question. Sometimes I write out an entire sequences of poses that I'd like to do in a practice session; sometimes I don't. It depends on several factors. How disciplined I feel or how sensitive I feel may be part of what guides me to choose to plan ahead or not. When I'm feeling a little lazy (alasya or laziness is one of the obstacles to practice in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali) I plan out an entire sequence so my practice is more structured and I'm less likely to let my mind wander and get distracted. However, if I'm in a place where I don't feel rushed or pressured, I might just start with something and see where it goes. The possibilities are endless. Experiment with both ways of practicing and see what happens. There is no right or wrong way. Remember, the goal is to feel and learn by directing your awareness inward; that's all.
What poses should I do? There are so many good answers to this question that I couldn't possibly say them all here now, but here are a few hints.

Do the sequences listed in the back of Light on Yoga, Yoga: A Gem for Women, or Yoga: The Iyengar Way. These sequences were written for students to practice. (The courses in the back of Light on Yoga progress very quickly. It would be completely appropriate to multiply each week number by 10 and progress at that rate.)
Do a sequence that you learned in class (See #2 above). I actually did this today for my practice.
Write your own sequence based on what you would like to work on. There are some basic guidelines. For example, standing poses usually are done toward the beginning followed by seated poses, forward extensions, twists, and backward extensions. Obviously this is just a guideline because we've all been in classes that deviate from this order. If sirsasana (head balance) is practiced then sarvangasana (shoulderstand) should always be practiced at some point afterwards and for at least the same amount of time. You should always end with savasana (corpse pose) *don't skip it!*

6. Just do it! There is no time like the present.

Well, I hope this was helpful, and let me know if you have any questions. Have a great yoga practice today!

Mixed Level on June 27, 2010

2010-06-27T21:53:00.001-05:00

This is the last class I'll be teaching until I get back from my concert band tour on July 10, 2010. I hope all of you continue to practice while I'm gone!

We did a backbend sequence in the style of George Purvis, one of my senior teachers. I hope all of you that were able to come enjoyed the class.

Swastikasana (invocation)

Adho Mukha Virasana

Adho Mukha Svanasana: press all the base knuckles of the fingers down with even distribution of weight

Supta Tadasana, feet at the wall

Urdhva Hastasana in Supta Tadasana, feet at the wall: rotate triceps in and biceps out, extend from triceps to pinky fingers and draw arms back into the shoulder sockets from thumb-side to biceps

Urdhva Baddhanguliasana in Supta Tadasana, feet at the wall: same as above

Adho Mukha Svanasana, hands at the wall: press hands down and forward into the wall and lift thighs and press them back to lengthen trunk up toward hips

Ardha Adho Mukha Vrksasana: place hands one leg's-length from the wall and walk up the wall until thighs are parallel to the floor, press base knuckles of fingers down, lift shoulders up, press thighs up

Pinca Mayurasana (preparation): press forearms down and forward to lift shoulders up, keeping upper arms vertical, walk in and lift thighs up to lengthen trunk

Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana on a chair:

(seat of chair away from the wall), armpits at edge of chair, kness bent, hands on chair back, pull down on chair back to lift chest, press feet down to lift tailbone
armpits at edge of chair, knees bent, take arms into Urdhva Hastasana, turn triceps in, extend from tricep to pinky and plug arms back into the shoulder from thumb-side to bicep
armpits at edge of chair, arms holding back legs of chair, press feet into wall to straighten legs and extend trunk towards the head, press thighs down, lift tailbone, pull chair legs down to open chest
turn the chair around, armpits at edge of chair, knees bent, press feet down to lift thighs and tailbone up, take hands to wall with hands shoulders'-width apart, bring elbows narrower so upper arms are parallel to each other, plug arms into the shoulder sockets and lift shoulderblades up the back to open the chest; walk hands lower down wall repeating arm actions

Urdhva Dhanurasana with chair

(chair seat away from the wall), armpits on sticky mat on chair back, take arms overhead to wall with hands shoulders'-width apart, bring elbows narrower so upper arms are parallel to each other, plug arms into the shoulder sockets and lift shoulderblades up the back to open the chest; walk hands lower down wall repeating arm actions until arms are straight, adjust distance from wall
turn chair around, armpits to edge of chair, bring hands to blocks at wall with hands shoulders'-width apart, bring elbows narrower so upper arms are parallel to each other, plug arms into the shoulder sockets and lift shoulderblades up the back to open the chest, press heels down to lift thighs and buttock, press hands down and straighten arms to lift chest and trunk up into Urdhva Dhanurasana

Adho Mukha Svanasana, heels at the wall

Parvottanasana, right leg forward

Adho Mukha Svanasana, heels at the wall

Parsvottanasana, left leg forward

Parsva Uttanasana

Adho Mukha Virasana

Adho Mukha Vajrasana

Savasana, feet at wall, head supported

The Five Classifications of Fluctuations of Consciousness

2010-06-27T21:26:00.001-05:00

Tonight in the Yoga Philosophy Discussion we talked about the five classifications of the fluctuations of consciousness. These five classes of fluctuations may "disturb the [practitioner] or help him to develop maturity of intelligence and attain emancipation." (LoYS, p. 56)

1. Pramana - valid knowledge, experienced knowledge, correct knowledge
"Correct knowledge is direct knowledge from the core of being. It is intuitive, therefore pure, and beyond the field of intellect."

2. Viparyaya - a mistaken view which is observed to be such after study, mistaken identity, misidentification, perverse perception, illusion, wrong perception
"Wrong perceptions are gathered by the senses of perception and influence the mind to accept what is felt by them."

3. Vikalpa - doubt, indecision, delusion, imagination, fanciful knowledge
"Fanciful knowledge causes the mind to live in an imaginary state without consideration of the facts." (LoYS, p. 56)

4. Nidra - sleep, a state of emptiness
"Sleep has its own peculiarity. As a jar when empty is filled with air, so consciousness is empty in sleep. It exists in space, without a place, and is filled with dormancy. In sleep, one has a glimpse of a quiet state of mind...This dormant state of mind is felt only on waking." (LoYS, p. 56)

5. Smrti - memory, the holding fast to the impressions of objects one has experienced
"Memory helps one to recollect experiences for right understanding." (LoYS, p. 56)

Yoga Sutras I.2-I.11 as translated by BKS Iyengar in Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali:

I.2 Yoga is the cessation of the movements of consciousness.
I.3 Then, the seer (soul) dwells in his own true splendor.
I.4 At other times, the seer identifies with the fluctuating consciousness.
I.5 The movements of consciousness are fivefold. They may be cognizable or non-cognizable, painful or non-painful.
I.6 They are caused by correct knowledge, illusion, delusion, sleep, and memory.
I.7 Correct knowledge is direct, inferred, or proven as factual.
I.8 Illusory or erroneous knowledge is based on non-fact or the non-real.
I.9 Verbal knowledge devoid of substance is fancy or imagination.
I.10 Sleep is the non-deliberate absence of thought-waves or knowledge.
I.11 Memory is the unmodified recollection of words and experiences.

Questions:

When have I acted upon something that I thought to be true that turned out to be untrue? What were the consequences of this misperception?
When have I deluded myself into believing something to be true when it wasn't? Was I conscious of this decision to believe the fantasy? What were the consequences?
Is memory always a negative fluctuation? How can examining memories of our experiences be positive? negative?
How is the yogic state of union (stilling the fluctuations of the mind) different than that of sleep or the moment of wakefulness? How is it similar?

Intermediate Class on June 23, 2010

2010-06-24T14:04:00.002-05:00

It's backbend week at the Yoga Hut! Keeping space and length in the lumbar spine is high priority so focus on keeping the buttocks moving away from the lumbar spine, bringing the tailbone in, and lifting the chest by bringing the shoulderblades and dorsal spine into the body.

Virasana (invocation)
Supta Virasana: lengthen buttocks away from lumbar, descend thighs, pull arms into shoulders sockets and lift shoulderblades to open and lift chest
Adho Mukha Svanasana: move shoulderblades up toward hips and into back-body and take dorsal spine in to open chest
Chaturanga Dandasana: lift thighs up, lengthen buttocks away from lumbar. Circularize the skin of the upper arms in this manor: lift front of forarms up, biceps forward, triceps back toward elbows, back of elbows and forearms down to heels of hands, heels of hands forward to fingertips, top hands back from fingers to wrist
Urdhva Mukha Svanasana: first time from Chaturanga Dandasana without changing the direction of the circularization of skin of arms; second time (many times actually) with hands on blocks, toes tucked under, initiate arm action and maintain as you bring pubis and chest forward and up, move trapezius down and away from neck, shoulderblades into back-body to lift chest up more
Bhujangasana: same arm action as Chaturanga Dandasana, bring shoulderblades and dorsal spine in as you coil up into the pose
Bekasana: one leg at a time, come into Bhujangasana, keeping pubic bone and groins down, bend one knee and place palm (fingers facing backwards) on top of foot, press both palms down, bend both elbows to lift chest and press heel toward buttocks; second time, turn fingers to face forward as you pivot the webbing between thumb and index finger on the arch of foot; third time, both legs at once
Dhanurasana: keeping tailbone in and groins on floor, bend both knees and hold outer ankles. Press shins back to lift chest and knees, draw trapezius and shoulderblades down and away from neck and draw shoulderblades and dorsal spine into the back-body to open and lift the chest
Parsva Dhanurasana: maintain Dhanurasana actions as you push more with your left shin and roll onto your right side; trap right shoulder on floor and press shins into hands to increase the tailbone in and chest openning actions, turn chest and head away from floor to open chest more; keeping tailbone in and chest open, press the left shin even more to come back up to Dhanurasana; other side
Ustrasana: keeping pressure evenly distributed from knee to ankle on lower leg, press shins down and back to lift hamstrings up and bring tailbone in, press buttocks down with hands and lift side ribs up, roll upper arms back and bring shoulderblades and trapezius down and away from neck and shoulderblades into the back-body to lift chest, maintain these actions as you coil back and place hands on feet, press hands and shins down to lift trunk and chest up; to come up, press shins down, bring hands to buttocks and press hands and shins down to lift chest up
Adho Mukha Svanasana
Parsvottanasana: hands down, stepping from Adho Mukha Svanasana
Parsva Uttanasana: come into Uttanasana with the feet mats'-width apart, hold front of right ankle with left hand, pull trunk over right leg and turn trunk from left to right without shortening waist; change sides
Adho Mukha Virasana
Adho Mukha Vajrasana
Savasana w/bolster under knees and head supported

Tuscan White Bean and Fennel Stew with Orange and Rosemary

2010-06-23T13:20:00.001-05:00

So tonight we had some friends over for some gaming and I made the Tuscan White Bean and Fennel Stew from Robin Robertson's Vegan Planet: 400 Irresistible Recipes with Fantastic Flavors from Home and Around the World. It was really good and had some ingredients that I don't usually cook with but were easily found at Sprout's like fennel (anise is another name for fennel). This recipe also had potatoes, diced tomatoes, zucchini, carrots, onion, and garlic. It was super-yummy(!) even though in the picture it doesn't look that exciting. I've made quite a few recipes from this book and so far they have all turned out to be easy and awesome-tasting.

Beginner Class on Monday, June 21, 2010

2010-06-22T11:13:00.000-05:00

We worked on keeping the length of the front body by moving the front ribs away from the abdomen and towards the chest and lifting the chest by bringing the upper arms into the shoulder sockets, moving the trapezius away from the neck, and bringing the shoulderblades into the back body. Enjoy!

Swastikasana (invocation)
Adho Mukha Swastikasana: with rolled blanket in hip creases, lift bottom front floating ribs up and over rolled blanket, extend trunk and arms forward, move floating ribs forward away from blanket roll and toward the chest (the blanket roll should help prevent the ribs from moving backwards toward the abdomen)
Adho Mukha Vajrasana: (knees and feet together) with blanket roll (same as above)
Adho Mukha Virasana: big toes together, knees apart, no blanket roll but same actions
Adho Mukha Svanasana
Uttanasana (concave spine): pull floor toward you to extend the sides of the trunk more, bring arms into shoulder sockets and move shoulderblades into back-body to open and move chest forward
Tadasana
Urdhva Hastasana: stretch up thru front of arms and pull down thru back of arms so trapezius moves away from the neck and draw the shoulderblades down and into the body to open the chest
Urdhva Baddhanguliasana: stretch up thru front of arms and pull down thru back of arms so trapezius moves away from the neck and draw the shoulderblades down and into the body to open the chest
Ardha Paschima Baddha Hastasana: hold one arm behind the back with the opposite hand, just above the elbow, roll your outer upper arms back and move the shoulderblades down to open the chest
Gomukhasana (arms only): move both upper arms back and draw shoulderblades down to open the chest
Chatushpadasana: press heels down to lift thighs and bottom of buttocks up; press outer upper arms down to lift shoulderblades up and lift shoulderblades up more to lift chest up
Uttanasana (concave spine): move shoulderblades into back-body like in Chatushpadasana to open chest more
Chatushpadasana
Padangusthasana (concave spine): pull on toes to bring arms into shoulder sockets, move shoulderblades toward waist and into the back-body to open chest forward
Chatushpadasana
Prasarita Padottanasana: hands on hips, come over half way maintaining concave spine, sneak hands to blocks (or floor) without disturbing trunk, pull blocks back toward you to move upper arms, trapezius, and shoulderblades toward your waist to open and bring chest forward
Chatushpadasana
Salabhasana: arm action only, roll outer upper arms toward ceiling and stretch hands back toward feet to open chest
Bharadvajasana I: roll upper arms back and bring shoulderblades down and into back-body to open chest
Dandasana, Urdhva Hasta and Urdhva Mukha phases: press thighs and hands down to lift trunk, extend arms up without diminishing the lift of the trunk, hold belt around feet, pull belt to bring arms into shoulder sockets, bring shoulderblades down and into back-body to open chest
Savasana

Mixed Level on Sunday, June 20, 2010

2010-06-22T06:31:00.000-05:00

To begin backbend week this month, we went back to the basics and practiced developing shoulder/neck clarity by focusing on the upper arm moving into the shoulder sockets and trapezius muscle releasing down and away from the neck.

Swastikasana: move upper arms back, shoulderblades and trapezius down, and bring shoulderblades forward (into the back body to open and lift the chest
Supta Tadasana: feet into the wall, start with knees bent, feel how trapezius gets trapped on the sticky mat and moves away from the neck as you straighten the legs
Supta Urdhva Hastasana: feet into the wall, start with knees bent, take arms over head, feel how trapezius gets trapped on the sticky mat and moves away from the neck as you straighten the legs
Adho Mukha Svanasana: thumb and index finger at wall, create same action with the trapezius as you felt on the floor; 2nd time, partner lifts trapezius up with first two fingers of each hand
Uttanasana: concave back, move shoulderblades into the back-body, move trapezius away from the neck
Tadasana: with block between thighs, roll inner thighs back, descend buttock away from lumbar without moving inner thighs or block forward

For all of the following arm positions: keep the leg and buttock actions of Tadasana, move upper arms back into the shoulder sockets, bring trapezius down and away from the neck, bring shoulderblades down and into the back-body to open the chest
Urdhva Hastasana
Urdhva Baddhanguliasana
Paschima Baddhanguliasana
Ardha Paschima Baddha Hastasana
Gomukhasana (arms only)
Paschima Namaskarasana
Adho Mukha Svanasana

Salabhasana: arm action only (legs stay on floor), back of hands on blocks, keeping chest down, press hands down to lift upper arms up, stretch hands back toward feet to move shoulderblades and trapezius away from the neck,
Salabhasana: arm action only (legs stay on floor), hands thru belt loop, slightly wider than shoulder width, keep chest down, press sideways into belt, lift outer upper arms, stretch back thru hands to move shoulderblades and trapezius away from the neck
Salabhasana: classic pose
Bharadvajasana I: first time no clasp, second time classic arm position, move upper arms back and trapezius down and away from neck, bring shoulderblades into the back-body to lift the chest
Sarvangasana
Savasana

The Kleshas

2010-06-21T08:49:00.000-05:00

In the yoga philosophy group yesterday (which meets on Sundays at 6 pm for 20 minutes) we discussed the 5 afflictions or causes of pain (the kleshas). Through introspection we can trace all pain and suffering back to at least one of these 5 afflictions:

1. Ignorance

2. Egoism

3. Attachment

4. Aversion

5. Fear of death

B.K.S. Iyengar states that "The sadhaka [practitioner] must learn to locate the sources of the afflictions, in order to be able to nip them in the bud through his yogic principles and disciplines." (Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, p. 113)

Sutras II.3 thru II.9 define the 5 afflictions. Here are Iyengar's translations from Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali:

II.3 The five afflictions which disturb the equilibrium of consciousness are: ignorance or lack of wisdom; ego, pride of ego, or sense of 'I'; attachment to pleasure; aversion to pain; fear of death and clinging to life.

II.4 Lack of true knowledge is the source of all pains and sorrows whether dormant, attenuated, interrupted or fully active.

II.5 Mistaking the transient for the permanent, the impure for the pure, pain for pleasure, and that which is not the self for the self: all this is called lack of spiritual knowledge, avidya.

II. 6 Egoism is the identification of the seer with the instrumental power of seeing.

II.7 Pleasure leads to desire and emotional attachment.

II.8 Unhappiness leads to hatred.

II.9 Self-preservation or attachment to life is the subtlest of all afflictions. It is found even in wise men.

Here are some questions I came up with to ask myself regarding the causes of pain. Please add questions that arose during your reading and introspection to the comments section.

How do I mistake the transient for the permanent? impure for pure? pain for pleasure? that which is not the self for the self?

How do I identify myself as separate/distinct from others? What labels to I cling to? How do I perceive myself and how do I think others perceive me? How does that make me feel?

What expectations do I cling to? How do I feel when things don't happen as I'd like them to? What do I find pleasureful? What emotional attachment arises from this?

What do I avoid even though I know it's good for me? When has unhappiness led to hatred?

What am I afraid of? How does this change my behaviors and choices?

VegNews Book Club!

2010-06-18T08:15:00.001-05:00

VegNews (the magazine) is starting an online book club, and the book for July is MAD COWBOY: Plain Truth from the Cattle Rancher Who Won't Eat Meat. This is a book I've been wanting to read for a long time and this is a perfect excuse for me to get started! Anybody who is interested, check out the details at VegNews Book Club.

Mixed Level on Thursday, June 17, 2010

2010-06-18T08:08:00.001-05:00

This arm balance sequence is almost identical to what I taught on Sunday, June 13 at the Yoga Hut. Hope you enjoy!

Swastikasana
Adho Mukha Virasana
Adho Mukha Svanasana
Uttanasana
Tadasana
Eka Pada Pavanmuktasana: from Supta Tadasana, keeping one leg fully extended and completely on the floor, bend the opposite knee toward the chest and move groin of bent leg toward the extended-leg foot
Supta Padangusthasana I, III: keep straight leg extended and down, move opposite groin and femur forward
Urdhva Prasarita Padasana: (we didn't do this on Sunday but should have!) extend legs up, move buttocks to heels and pubis to navel as you lower the legs
Salamba Sirsasana I
Paripurna Navasana: extend legs, lift sacrum up and in, draw shoulderblades down and in
Ubaya Padangusthasana (we did Ardha Navasana on Sunday): extend legs, lift sacrum up and in, draw arms into sockets, draw shoulderblades down and in
Malasana: press inner edges of feet down to bring thighs closer and tighter around the trunk
Marichyasana I: forward extenstion, press inner edge of bent-leg foot down to keep leg firmly against the trunk
Akarna Dhanurasana: keep both buttock-bones down as you pull the knee and elbow back as far as possible
Eka Hasta Bhujasana: extend thru inner edge of foot to keep leg up on the shoulder
Dwi Hasta Bhujasana
Chatushpadasana
Setu Bandha Sarvangasana on a block (Sarvangasana I on Sunday)
Savasana

Intermediate Class on Wednesday, March 16, 2010

2010-06-17T08:01:00.000-05:00

Here's the arm balancing sequence we did in class on Wednesday night:

Swastikasana
Adho Mukha Svanasana: spread palms and fingers, distribute weight evenly on the palm
Supta Padangusthasana I, II, IV: extend the "down leg" forward to bring hamstring closer to floor, "pin" outer femurs into the hip sockets
Jathara Parivartanasana: extend thru heels, "pin" outer femur of bottom leg into hip socket, turn abdomen opposite direction as legs
Adho Mukha Svanasana
Uttanasana
Tadasana
Padangusthasana: during concave phase bring shoulderblades deeply into back body
Salamba Sirsasana: keep shoulders lifted and shoulderblades moving into back body
Adho Mukha Virasana
Dandasana: extend thru heels, press thighs down and together, press hands and bring shoulderblades into back body
Paripurna Navasana: extend thru heels, press thighs together, lift sacrum up and in, shoulderblades into back body
Ubaya Padangusthasana: extend thru heels, press thighs together, lift sacrum up and in, pull arms into sockets, shoulderblades into back body
Ardha Navasana: extend buttocks thru heels, press legs together, move pubis to navel to round the lumbar, round mid and upper back; if you can maintain rounding, lift legs to eye level
Lolasana: spread palms and press down, round lower and upper back, draw heels to buttocks, knees to chest
Malasana: descend buttocks and heels, extend trunk forward, press inner feet down to bring thighs close to trunk
Eka Hasta Bhujasana: extend buttock thru heels to lift straight leg
Bakasana: go up head and chest first, without lifting buttocks up, extend thru inner feet to bring thighs close to trunk
Marichyasana III
Parsva Bakasana
Salamba Sarvangasana I
Parsva Halasana: turn abdomen opposite direction as legs, "pin" outer femur of trailing leg into hip socket
Karnapidasana: lift pubis up
Savasana

Pan-Fried Asparagus with Lime Juice

2010-06-16T09:15:00.004-05:00

We (my husband and I) made this recipe from Colleen Patrick-Goudreau's book The Vegan Table: 200 Unforgettable Recipes for Entertaining Every Guest at Every Occasion last night. It was easy and turned out great! The lime juice gave it a nice kick and it was nice and garlicky. The only change I will make for next time is to use a little less oil.

Beginner Class on Monday, June 14, 2010

2010-06-15T06:43:00.000-05:00

It is my hope to encourage all yoga students to begin a home practice. Hopefully, you will find this helpful in guiding you!

So here's what we did on Monday evening:

Swastikasana
Adho Mukha Virasana: keeping hips descended to heels
Tadasana: bend the knees, press the sole of foot and heels down as you lift the thighs to straighten the knees, extend the trunk up, descend the buttocks down, open chest by rolling shoulders back
Urdhva Hastasana: without disturbing the legs and trunk in Tadasana
Gomukhasana (arms only): without disturbing the legs and trunk in Tadasana
Utkatasana: buttocks descending
Garudasana: facing wall for balance, legs only, then arms only, then both together, keeping the buttocks descending
Parsvottanasana (concave spine): As in Tadasana earlier, bend the knees, press the feet down and lift the thighs up to straighted the legs, maintain the work of the legs throughout the pose
Prasarita Padottanasana (concave spine): leg focus as Parsvottanasna
Adho Mukha Svanasana (hands at wall)
Virasana and Urdhva Baddhanguiliasana in Virasana
Gomukhasana: buttocks descending
Chatushpadasana (on Sarvangasana setup)
Savasana