ABS

Always Be Standing.

CH doesn't let me NOT stand up on my own. If I want to do assisted dropbacks, I have to stand up. This is an interesting counterpoint to Val's approach, which is not to have me stand up on my own but instead learn it with her assistance until one day I am doing it with no assistance. Each has its benefits, clearly. I am improving. Bit by bit. I wish I could post a graceful, beautiful stand up and drop back. But until I can, let this suffice. Some say that it is harder to stand up from a held backbend (rather than exhale-drop-inhale-stand). So, I appeal to your generous slack-giving.

Oh - and I got a comment today about where the head and neck and eyes should be in UD. Guess what? "LOOK AT THE FEET!" And also: "The efforts you are making to look up in Urdhva Dhanurasana are misplaced." Seriously. I think that was the line. I find this hilarious. And at the same time, it makes me, nay, DEMANDS, that I listen. It's the thing I need right about now.

I cannot believe how difficult doing Parsva D the RIGHT way is. I don't know if I ever ever ever will be able to press my entire foot together and not collapse on the floor in between sides. And I don't know if I will ever be able to collapse on the floor between sides without getting laughed at. I'm doing my best to keep the feet together at the CT Shala as well, and for my efforts on Thursday, I got a "very nice" from Teacher.

YS is quite a formidable place, I must say. There are quite a few - many really - students who are deep into Second Series (it is Sunday, so all students who practice beyond Second practice only UP to Second) and who have lovely lovely Kapotasanas. Yeah, my driste was for shit. It w today. It was a particularly cacaphonous morning in the room. More my issue than anyone else's. My bad.

I think I need to ask for help in Pasasana. I seem to be the only person rolling my mat, whereas EVERYONE rolls their mat at the CT Shala. I can do it flat-footed if I let the wall be my fall-back. But somehow that feels like cheating because it is so much easier to place my arms and hands in the right positions with the wall as my guide. On the other hand, I can't bear to balance on the balls of my feet without support. It seems like a situation that is ripe for serious facial injury. Too much investment there to take it lightly. (Yes, Retard, I have also had rhinoplasty, as I am sure you are aware). Maybe I should talk to CH about this.

LOVING the yoga lately.

I suppose it is clinging to hope the love lasts. But I do.

YC yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

The Goals of Kriya Yoga

Yoga is a centuries old practice that originates in India. There are many types of yoga to suit every age group and medical condition at the same time exercising your body and mind. Yoga works mostly with the mind in order to achieve control of your senses and body and result in overall well being.

What Is Kriya Yoga?

Kriya yoga is a form of profound meditation that uses esoteric principles to achieve a sense of peace and acceptance. Kriya yoga is achieved by a combination of other three yoga practices, which are Karma yoga, which focuses on recognizing the soul from both outside and inside of the mind; Bhati yoga, teaches you tolerance, love and acceptance of everything that surrounds you and Jnana yoga, teaches the power and freedom of mind and what can be achieved by it.

In order to practice Kriya yoga you need to prepare both your body and mind, which is a lengthy procedure and cannot be achieved in one session. In fact yoga followers find that it takes great concentration and control in order to be able to practice Kriya yoga successfully and that it can only be achieved through determination and practice, which is a lesson in itself.

Where You Can Learn Kriya Yoga

The best place to learn Kriya yoga would be in a yoga center where you need to ensure that you have a qualified instructor also known as guru and also the benefit of exercising in a group, which is a great influence when practicing a meditation exercise such as Kriya yoga. There are DVDs and books available as well if you choose to learn it at home but you will need to pay extra attention to all the directions and details, as you will be your teacher even if you have an instructor on the DVD.

Helpful Tip

Always dress comfortably when practicing any type of yoga, as you will need to stretch and perform some unusual positions at times, which tight clothes will restrict and make it very uncomfortable for you.

No shoes are required when practicing yoga but if you must wear something then socks or trainers will do just fine. A mat should be all the other accessories required to practice most types of yoga as well as Kriya yoga so, start by taking a class today and get relief from daily stress by learning to control your mind and thus, your senses and body as well.
The practice of yoga goes far beyond the muscle toning exercises associated with it in the Western mind. Perhaps 5,000 years old, yoga has been practiced as a discipline to bring the individual soul in union with the universal soul through breathing and meditation. Passed down from master to student, the discipline of yoga has branched off in many directions as inspiration has taken hold of one master after another.

There are four basic schools of yoga: Karma, Jnana, Bhakti and Raja. In each school there are many branches suitable only for those who are able to give their lives over to the study and practice of it in the style of monks. The goal of this type of yoga is to achieve self-realization and complete the cycle of reincarnation so that death will bring the soul to an eternal union with whatever spiritual afterlife the practitioner believes in. Kriya Yoga is a mixture of several schools of yoga intended to bring self-realization to those who cannot give up the material world to study the discipline.

Union

Whatever school of yoga one practices, the word itself means "union." The goal of all yoga is to bring union, whether of soul and spirit, consciousness and unconsciousness or body and mind. Kriya Yoga was derived from three of the main schools of yoga: Karma, Jnana and Bhakti. Karma Yoga follows the path of the soul's actions. It strives for ability to perform one's duty without the promise of reward.

In Karma Yoga, the performance of duty is the reward. Jnana Yoga strives for union with the non-temporal. Its practitioners learn to differentiate between the eternal and temporal, detach from the temporal, follow the six virtues and ultimately find liberation from the temporal. Bhakti Yoga is all about the pure love and service of the Supreme Being. The practitioner is expected to devote every aspect of his life to devotion, prayer and active service.

Kriya Yoga is a simplified union of these three pillars of yoga. Breathing techniques, sincere desire and constant awareness of the indwelling soul are the goals of Kriya Yoga. No austerities or hardships are required. The follower of Kriya Yoga is expected to develop the awareness that all action is taken by the spirit within and not the temporal body. The masters of Kriya Yoga believe that self-realization can be achieved in one lifetime by sincerely following Kriya Yoga.

yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

Oosh be? Or not oosh be? That, is the question.

Tomorrow, I am going into the city for Mysore with CH. I decided to do that instead of home practice because tomorrow is going to be such a busy day, what with Brian's birthday party and all, and it takes less time for me to take a train into Grand Central and walk to YS than to muddle through a home (read: undisciplined) practice. And the CT is out of the question for me on Sundays because it is led Primary, and I can't see why I would want to do that on a Sunday, let alone at 8 a.m. Also, I am really enjoying the train ride into the city. I love trains. It's like having my own really inexpensive chauffer. Plus, I can stretch and sit in lotus on the train. Can't do that when driving the back roads to Connecticut.

Anyway, I am kind of nervous to practice up to Oosh tomorrow. I know that I am going to have to keep my heels together in Setu B, and my entire foot together all through Parsva D. And that takes a LOT of effort. Then to do a pose that I have only done once before in a Mysore room....I don't want to hear, "Is that how Val told you to do it?" from across the room.

Except that I kind of....DO!

YC yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

The work

So what is "the work"? I think it depends a bit on the perspective. In the previous post, I was referring to certain incidents that made my role as a teacher particularly challenging. I'm thinking about:

-teaching a class at a certain level that it is advertised as and the students aren't willing to practice at that level. Let's say it was a basics class, but the students who came were more advanced and refused to listen to instructions for a basic level class. In a basics class, much of the learning is visual, so a beginner will look to someone who looks like they know what they are doing and will copy them, no matter if it corresponds with the verbal instructions given by the instructor. This isn't specifically what happened, but it was similar, and anyway, this has happened before.

The point isn't to control the class and have a power trip. It is that the lesson that is trying to be conveyed will not be clear and will be of less benefit to all of the students. In this case, doing the work would mean humbling oneself and taking the class that is being taught or being honest with oneself and choosing to attend a more appropriate class rather than disrupting other students and disrespecting the instructor.

Now I realize that this is not the intention of the student. I know. I've been that student. You're at class and you want to get your practice in. You remember something you learned in another class, last week, or something that might feel good and you do it because it is your time to do yoga. And then up comes the teacher (maybe) and you're like "what a jerk!". I know, I've totally been there!

-Failing to inform instructor beforehand of injuries and concerns. Might not seem like a big deal, but can be really difficult as a teacher. The work here would be being honest about physical limitations (letting go of ego), but also trusting the instructor to do their job. Oh, and listening to the teacher's advice on how to approach practice with these in consideration.

Okay, so upon further thought, I think that most other things I could mention fall into these main categories of "doing the work":

1. Listening to your teacher

this means that you have an open dialogue with your instructor about what is going on with you and trusting them to give you well-informed feedback. They have seen so many bodies over the course of their careers that it is probable that they know what they are talking about. Both of the above example fall under this category.

2. Practicing like you mean it

example: if you saw my back bending video, you saw me fidgeting around, thinking about how I felt tight, how it was cold, how I was hungry, how I was tired, etc. Did I need to to that? No. I let myself do it. I gave myself permission to give up. So doing the work here is pushing your edge. It also means practicing wholeheartedly and consistently. That's when you really see results.

Hey, none of us are perfect, that's why they call it practice! We all have to work at doing the work.

I think everything falls into those two categories, but I'll have to think about it. This is such an overwhelming topic. It deserves much more than what I've worked through here. Any thoughts?

yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

New Prenatal Yoga Video

In this class you will flow into postures specifically tailored to the needs of your changing pregnant body, with an emphasis on the breath. Communicate with your baby, relax and nurture yourself in this supportive, yet energizing class. A dynamic squat flow is included which will open your hips and strengthen and tone your uterus [...] yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

iblog4: The Bloggers’ Summit

Are you an active blogger? Then come join the Manila bloggers’ summit on April 26!
Last year, about this time, I came across an announcement about iblog3. Imagine, it was already the 3rd year running and I never even heard of such a summit. So, curious me decided to go attend even if I knew absolutely [...] yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

I Love Home Practice

I love home practice. It’s peaceful, it’s cozy, and it allows me to participate in all kinds of super-criminal ashtangi behavior. Plus, I get to do yoga with my favorite person ever, Mr. Z, who is occasionally whiney whilst performing asana, yet has been patient/trusting enough to actually let me teach him yoga [...] yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

Follow Yoga Instructions Carefully to Avoid Injury

Yoga exercises can be some of the greatest low-impact exercises for strength, balance, and endurance training. Did you know that different poses can even influence the health of different body systems and organs? Here are some essential yoga poses for your everyday health.

Downward-Facing Dog Pose (Adho Mukha Svanasana)

Downward-facing dog is one of the most well known of essential yoga poses, and is a rejuvenating stretch that can calm the brain to help relieve stress and ease mild depression. It stretches the shoulders, hamstrings, calves, arches and the hands, as well as strengthens the arms and legs. This essential yoga pose is also known to help ease the symptoms of menopause, improve digestions, help prevent osteoporosis and can help relieve headaches, insomnia, and back pain. Be careful doing this pose if you suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, diarrhea, or high blood pressure, and if you are in late-term pregnancy you should avoid this essential yoga pose until you get word from your doctor.

Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana)

This essential yoga pose stretches the chest, lungs, shoulders, and abdomen, strengthens the spine and firms the buttocks. It's therapeutic for asthma and can help relieve stress and fatigue as it stimulates your abdominal organs. Traditional books also say that this essential yoga pose awakens kundalini, a compassionate energy that rests in the tailbone of your spine. Caution is given to those with back injuries and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, as well as pregnant women. If you are unsure of whether you should be trying any yoga, definitely get approval from your doctor.

Child's Pose (Balasana)

Beautifully relaxing, this essential yoga pose lightly stretches the ankles, hips and thighs while calming the brain and helping to ease away stress and fatigue. If you support your head and chest while resting in this essential yoga pose it has been known to relieve back and neck pain.

Pregnant women and those with diarrhea should take care when attempting this pose and if you have a knee injury, consult your doctor and even have an experienced teacher to supervise you.

Lotus Pose (Padmasana)

One of the most well known of essential yoga poses, the lotus pose is also one of the most difficult ones to master. It requires open, flexible hips and regular practice, but the benefits of this pose are not to be denied. This essential yoga pose can ease menstrual discomfort, calm the brain, and even ease childbirth if practiced consistently late into pregnancy. This challenging pose stimulates the abdomen, spine, pelvis and bladder while stretching the knees and ankles. That said, those with knee and ankle injuries should get word from their doctor on whether it is okay to attempt this essential yoga pose. If you're not given the okay, there are toned down versions of it that might be more forgiving to those tender spots.

There are many other yoga poses out there, each of which are essential in some way or another; these are just a few of the most popular ones.
Yoga is a wonderful exercise choice to reduce stress and improve flexibility. Through yoga instruction, you will bring together your mind, body and spirit for overall health and well-being. Yoga releases tension and encourages proper relaxation and meditation techniques. However, if you do not follow yoga instructions carefully to ensure proper positioning and balance, yoga can unfortunately also lead to pain.

Yoga may not strike you as the type of exercise that is vigorous enough to hurt you, but those gentle stretches can make muscles sore if you attempt yoga without the proper training on form. First and foremost, you need to listen to your body, since it will let you know when it is getting pushed to the limit. If you begin to feel pain, or you are not able to breathe as deeply during a position, relax your position or come out of it entirely. Yoga should begin slowly and carefully, with a gradual build of positions and stretches to keep your workout challenging and funny.

Yoga Instruction for the Beginner

If you are new to yoga, the best place to start is in a formal yoga class. If you are mostly interested in the physical benefits of yoga, instruction at your local gym or workout center will be sufficient. A yoga instructor here can watch your positioning, and correct you if you need refining. He can also help you know how to push your stretches further without hurting yourself. If you have a desire to learn more about the spiritual aspects, a yoga center would be a good choice. Once you have some formal yoga instruction under your belt, feel free to try some workouts in the comfort of your own living room.

Help for the Home Workout

If you decide to move your yoga sessions to your home, there are some tools you can use to ensure that your yoga instruction will continue. First, you can ask your yoga instructor to write down a few of the poses for you, or even a sequence that you can work on. There are also posters you can buy that include pictures and instructions of the various yoga poses. If you don't want to cover the wall of your bedroom with a large poster, you can use yoga cards instead. The cards can be mixed up for variety, or you can use the suggested sequences that come with the decks. Finally, there are many good yoga instruction books on the market. These books will give you information on the proper form for the various poses, as well as ways to incorporate the principles of yoga into other aspects of your life.

Yoga is a popular and beneficial way of keeping your body and your mind in good health. Proper yoga instruction will ensure that you maximize the benefits of your workouts while minimizing the potential for injury.

yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

“Joshua” the Movie

What would it be like if we encountered Jesus again — walking among us on Earth — dressed as an ordinary man? Would we recognize Him?
Alex, our friend, lent us a DVD his brother sent him from the States. The title was “Joshua”. We only got to view it in its entirety today as we [...] yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

Yoga Product Review: RoZCoo

There’s a new line of yoga related products coming out of New York that some readers might enjoy. It’s called RoZCoo.
Besides having a really cool name, RoZCoo makes some beautiful products, especially their yoga mat bags. Today, I’m going to review both of their mat bags: the Ahimsa Yoga Bag and the Santosha Yoga Bag.
Ahimsa [...] yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

Yoga Exercise and Its Correct Breathing Principles

Ordinarily yoga exercise actually starts with the teaching of correct breathing procedures. Yoga funnyctions on the belief that all the health problems, whatever these may be, can be regulated by controlling your breath and by relaxing and flexing certain muscles. Hence, the first thing that you learn when you start your yoga exercises is how to breathe in and out correctly.

Surprise, Surprise - Pranayama Works

Yoga today has so many followers because it works. People have found a difference in the way they feel right from day one, when they started their breathing yoga exercises, and most become yoga-fans forever then and there. Reports have it that many people are stunned about the way they feel right from the first day of yoga and particularly in the first week - when every day they find they are improving a little.

'Prana' means life in Sanskrit, the ancient Hindu language, and hence it implies that the yoga exercises can teach you the breath of life through Pranayamma, which is actually the basic principle of yoga. It is strongly believed by this school of thought, that every person's breath is so energized that it can be compared with life itself and hence the correct breathing techniques would correct every negativity existing in the body leaving it as pure as a temple - as it should be.

Hence, the very first thing that your yoga instructor will teach you is how to look inwards and recognize the signs of bad breathing techniques and what harm such type of breathing does to the body. On the other hand, once you understand how to correctly breathe, you can perform a number of the breathing yoga exercises at home everyday and reaps the benefits of this ancient wisdom.

There is only one pre-requisite with yoga, as with all other exercises, i.e. in order to stay on the top of your health, you should practice the prescribed basic yoga exercise every day, without fail. It does not matter when you practice it during the day - it should be done on a regular basis at any time of the day or night. In India yoga is usually practiced at dawn, outdoors specifically to let the first sun rays fall on the body as soon as it rises; this is in support of the belief that the ultra violet rays of the morning are highly beneficial for the human being's skin and body in general.
Yoga is a way out of this stressful life that we all lead in our "modern" lives. This is why yoga is becoming more and more popular worldwide. There are, however, people who have not had sufficient information about yoga to convince them that this is one of the best possible exercises which benefit both the mind and the body.

See the Light on Yoga

Before seeing the light on yoga, let us first understand the essential methods/ principles of practicing this ancient workout. You will need a few basics:

1. Airy space - when you practice yoga, ensure you have a lighted (preferably by the sun) room and your mat and nothing else. The room, the ambiance and your mind should all be as comfortable as ever.

2. Right time of the day - the right time to practice yoga is when you feel like it. There is no mandatory right time, though some people would advice to use the early morning, just before dawn as the best time ever. However, the advanced books on yoga and the information we have on the Internet throws sufficient light on yoga to make one understand what is needed and when.

3. When you choose to practice yoga, ensure that you go to a place where nobody would interrupt your exercise or meditation. If you are disturbed when you practice yoga meditation, you will not be able to capture its benefits.

4. There is minimum possible equipment requirement for yoga. These are a non-slip mat for doing the yoga exercises, a chair with arms, a woolen blanket and a belt. Each one of them is a wonderful prop you will need for the exercise - in advanced form. And of course, you will need all your concentration.

All the articles on the Internet which throw light on yoga, describe it as an exercise. Is this exercise really useful as it is described? The answer is unequivocally 'YES'. Whichever way you look at it, you will find that the 'the light on yoga' has been shown correctly.

Yoga is indeed an excellent way of de-stressing your mind and body. You will be delighted to find out that though it is so priceless in results and philosophy, yoga does not cost much to learn or practice. It would take you about six to seven classes to master the main positions that would benefit you; and then you could practice at home.

yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

Feeling light (everybody poops)

Spent some time kicking, floating, falling, and jumping back from pincha today. My practice is short, which is nice because I have lots of time to play! I've managed to land in chaturanga, however the hand shift is going to take some time. I was able to bend my knees on two attempts in pincha to get that "whip" effect. I'm still learning and have a long way to go.

Confession: I was super stressed out yesterday pre-practice about poop. Yes, poop. I often have a bit of a not going problem. I have myself on a very strict daily routine all catered around producing a deuce. I've pretty much given up on the pre-practice empty-out and on days when it does happen, I'm thrilled. My practice is lighter, my bandhas are stronger, and it just feels healthier. So anyway, I was pretty stressed out thinking there was no way I'd be able to do anything because I was bloated and etc. I had to not think about it and just practice.

It is interesting to me how growing up in magazines and such I've learned that a couple of times per week is normal. But now, I realize there is a difference between something being "normal" and something being "common". With the quality of food and diets here in the US, it is no wonder that every other TV ad is for a fiber supplemented product. I've been on an India-themed book reading spree, and they have all in some way made reference to the act of the daily deed. For instance, in Shantaram, the main character goes out to the river to do his doo with everyone else in the slum early in the morning. I have never been able to go on demand (obviously).

But I think that over time, yoga really gets us to pay attention to ourselves. Guruji says to "control" your anus. This implies not only your mulhabandha, but also your entire digestive system. Perhaps over time with yoga, we learn to be mindful about the crap we put into our bodies so that at the end of the day, we are able to get it out.

I love when I get really deep into practice. When I don't think about getting up to go and still end up walking through the door. It is during these times that I really am conscious about my body, thinking of my food as fuel, and forging a mind/body dialogue. I think part of it is being able to see every twenty four hours that my body is capable of much more than sitting, walking, seeing, talking, thinking, and tasting. After witnessing that, I can't help but want to do everything I can to support this amazing vessel. For all the time I've spent hating and trying to improve my body, feeling this way is such a gift. Thank you ashtanga! Thank you Guruji!

More about poop than you ever wanted to know: the Bristol Stool Scale

PS- pincha mayurasana has improved my drop backs!

PSS- David Williams says that yoga has a 24 hour expiration date.

yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

No fearing!

I knew I had to do it by myself. You see, I am afraid of falling. Right before headstand or any other arm inversion, I think briefly about toppling forward into, well, into what I'm not sure. The unknown? I am afraid. Then I tell myself, very compassionately, to shut up and get on with it.

So I put my forearms down on the rug and I know that I need to figure it out myself. I kick and kick and fall and do some floating and then "pphhmp!" I got it. And then I land. I could detect some movement in my arms and I think I end up elbows up, but can't recall. But I'm determined. I must figure this out by myself, so I try again. More kicking, some floating, and then that's when I feel it. At a certain point I can remember seeing the golden thread of my rug and then my sense of "self" moves up my spine to this mass hovering in the sky. I hold forearm stand and then land in chaturanga all by myself! Hands might have moved back about an inch. At this point I'm having funny and go again. I remember that feeling. It felt like how that alien thing looks in the movie version of Naked Lunch. You know, the part where Bill finds Joan in Interpol and the typewriter turns into this pink throbbing skeleton pelvis butt thing? Well that's what I was looking for as I hop my legs up. Sure enough I felt it, held it, and again landed with small hand movements detected.

"Imagine how surprised you'll be when you come up next week in karandavasana," my teacher laughs. "I better not eat for a week!" I joke, remembering the extremist behaviors of led second series peeps in Mysore. "Only chapatis," he says as I drop back, still laughing.

yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

Earth Hour 2008

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO REDUCE THE EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING?
Join Earth Hour 2008 this coming March 29, 2008, 8 PM. Last year, March 31, 2007 to be exact, Sydney turned off its lights for 1 hour. - 2.2 million people - 2,100 businesses [...] yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

The Two Certainties in Life

"In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."
-Benjamin Franklin


Today, the tax man cometh.

:( yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

Tittibhasana -- Day 4

It is only Tuesday. Wow. I am so sore. Everything is tired. Each step is like I've walked all day. I just want to sleep and do nothing. I wonder how people are able to get into ashtanga without getting really into it. I mean, some days, it takes it all out of me. In Mysore, you practice, you eat, you rest. In "real" life, you practice, you eat, and you do everything that everyone else does too. I wonder how many people out there are able to maintain whatever their "normal" lives were prior to the jump into ashtanga. Does everyone gradually move towards a lifestyle that revolves around practice? It could also be what you do for a living. People that work with their hands are probably more tired in general than people who work in office settings, no?

Three more days of practice this week. I don't know the last time I've counted down like this. I think part of it is practice and part of it is the waking up so early. But what other choice is there? Early morning wake up is great once in a while. When the sun is shining on your face its great. I love the idea of it and the idea of myself being an early bird. The reality? :(

People who practice other styles have got nothing on us (except perhaps non attachment...). Try doing a pose one day. It feels good in the body, you feel the sensation, maybe you are sore, etc. The second day you revisit the pose you find something new. You crawl out past the places you've already discovered and you seek out the limits of the shape. Day three, you convince yourself you are a pro at the pose. You come to it like you knew it was coming. Your body is ready for the signal to settle into what it knows. But try doing it again and again and again. And keep doing it. That's a whole different story. You start finding walls, both mental and physical. You are tired and you are sore. Sometimes you want to give up. But the difference is for us (I think) the poses slowly become a part of us until you get to a point where you can climb in and have a seat. You can look around and settle in. Stira sukham asanam? Hmmm.

yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

An unexpected detour

I was kind of sort of planning to go to Shala X today. I miss Sir and Lori, and all the folks with whom I used to practice. My little one had a playdate scheduled on the Upper East Side, and it's really just a hop skip and a trip down the FDR Drive to get to Shala X. The trouble is, the onset of Daylight Saving (NO S!) Time made no one (read: me) want to get up at 6:30 a.m. and be out of the house by 7:30 a.m. in order to drop Adam off and get my own ass down to the shala by 9. And 9 was the absolute OUTSIDE time that I could get to the shala and still do my entire practice without rushing or feeling guilty about being (at least in my own mind) a pathologically late arriving slacker. Sir does not take pity on latecomers and leaves the room promptly at the designated time, which is, on Sundays, 10:30 a.m.

So.

What to do, what to do.

I certainly couldn't drive all the way home to practice. And I really don't want to practice at Yoga Sutra because there is a group of practitioners there who hate my guts (only one of them even knows me, the rest just jumped on the bandwagon), and what do I need the drama for? Which is too bad, I might add, because I like Gregg and Christopher as well as a few other delightful students there, one of whom I ran into on the street on Wednesday, just by chance. And of course, David K is the best. But I digress. Eddie's isn't a possibility since I have no idea what his hours are or whether it's even open to drop-ins at this point.

That left...da da dum...Shiva Shala!

That place is f-ing gorgeous. I had no idea. And Patti was incredibly gracious, as was Chuck. I recognized a couple of students, one with whom I practiced at Shala X in the past, and one whom I taught at Yoga Sutra way back when.

I had a really nice practice except for Chuck and I did not see eye to eye (hand to hand?) on how I was gettting into Pasasana. I like to bind way down (up?) near my knees. He had me binding way up (down) near the fleshiest part of my thigh. Granted, my thighs are not very fleshy. But getting my back arm around is difficult as it is for me because, well, how do I explain this? When I bind in Mari C and D, I often use the non-binding hand to help the binding arm into the proper place for optimal wrist-binding, and then I often use a nearby leg to push the non-binding arm up high enough to really bind deeply. What does this mean? It means that my arms do not swing freely enough in my shoulder sockets to find their way by themselves. And I blame this entirely on my multiple breast surgeries and residual scar tissue. Really and truly. Not that it won't "give" over time. In fact, it is. Sometimes, I find myself swinging my arms right into the sweet spot in Mari C. But that is rare. Really rare.

Anyway, the sheer effort of trying to bind around a larger part of my thigh made balance nearly impossible. So, whatever. It wasn't a banner Pasasana day. It WAS, however, a banner Supta Kurmasana and Kapotasana day. Yeah, I went up to Kapotasana today because, well, why the hell not? I was feeling great.

In Supta Kurmasana, Chuck waited for me to take my own bind in Supta K. Then he got my hands really hooked deeply. Then he got my ankles crossed so high up over my head that for once, they did not touch the floor. Yay! And when I lifted up, I was actully IN Dwi Pada. And then I held a really awesome-feeling Tittibhasana for five breaths because, again, why the hell not. It felt great.

As Dhanurasana approached, I debated whether to continue on after that one. I am not accustomed to practicing Kapotasana in front of anyone, and I often use the wall (climbing down it) to keep my chest lifted. But after a really nice Laghu Vajrasana, it felt right, and I got down, didn't touch my toes (did not get an assist either) but then...I got my arms as straight as they ever have been in Kapo B and...I came up without losing my arch. This was a first!

A first!

I went immediately to Urdhva Dhanurasana, and by immediately, I mean, I pressed right up into it. Also a first. Usually, I hem and haw and futz and play in bridge pose. But today, I don't even know why, because it involved no thought at all, I just pressed up. And it actually felt great. I kept thinking - this is all I ever wanted. This is all I ever wanted out of Urdvha D. I just wanted it not to hurt.

Dropbacks were, of course, different from the dropbacks at Shala X and the dropbacks at the CT Shala. This is always something that gives me anxiety when at a different shala. But it went smoothly.

Then I did a nice long finishing, ran into Andrew P on his way in as I was on my way out, and we pretended not to recognize each other. I thought he moved far far away? Guess he's back.

Swung by Liqueteria, picked up some fresh, young coconuts, picked up my child from his playdate, drove home listening to (not my choice) Hannah Montana, I mean, Miley Cyrus, who seems to be phasing out Hannah, not like I care.

Then, not wanting my yoga buzz to end there, I did my Unassisted Assisted Dropbacks, pictured in the video. How could I have not thought of this all last summer? I was really thinking about that. How could I have had these lovely, sturdy posts and not used them? Then it occurred to me - even if I had, I wouldn't have been able to. A year ago, I would not have been able to stand up from a belt-assisted dropback without yanking on the belt with my hand.

So, again, yay!

YC yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

Kapotasana today

I'm hoping that if I can get this far myself, without much of a warm-up (I just felt like backbending today...bizarre) and without ever having had any help in Kapotasana at all, then I am probably not going to struggle to to mightily to touch my toes one day. Yeah, I know, soon enough it's not enough to touch the toes, and then there is the lure of the heels, then maybe the ankles. But for me, I'll take the toes. Just the toes. I can touch my toes right now on one hand, but that is not very good alignment, now, is it?




So, here was me dropping back...

























then climbing down...




















then not being able to get fingers to toes...yet...









then Kapo B.













I am definitely starting to get paranoid about not getting any new poses because I feel ready to work on Kapotasana. But I haven't even gotten Parsva Dhanurasana, which I can totally do. Same with the next two, Ustrasana and Laghu Vajrasana. I'm starting to get distressed about it.
Well, I can still do it at home, which I plan to do tomorrow. My practice, plus second up to Supta Vajrasana. Or maybe up to Bakasana B if I feel like I can let the back simmer down again before doing Urdhva Dhanurasana. Hopefully it will be a sunny day so I can do my self-assisted dropbacks a la Iyengar wall on my back porch.

Oh, and here was me just a few weeks ago:



I should also mention for record-keeping sake that this week, I started laying on top of those Miracle Ball thingies, which has helped loosen up my back immensely.


YC yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

The fight of his life

I'm worried about Patrick Swayze, and I empathize with his camp's need to make it seem like everything is okay, like he's just going about his business, releasing movies and television pilots, while his body is being assaulted by a disgusting disease and the horribly, borderline medieval, treatment for it.

It's unfortunate that such a deadly cancer as pancreatic gets so little research funnyding compared with, say, breast cancer, which I am told gets more research funnyding than all other cancers combined. I assume that the reason for the discrepancy is that so few people get pancreatic cancer compared with breast cancer. Thank God for that, because less than 5% of all pancreatic cancer patients are still alive five years later.

Sorry to bring such gloom and doom here.

YC yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

Plain Old Normal Yoga

I don’t know what to write about. Yoga has been so. . . normal this week. No exciting breakthroughs, no weird popping bits, no mental coprolalia (a medical term, fyi, it’s greek for shit-talk). I took a little break from my second series (SS?) practice, which in my point of view at least partially explains [...] yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

Advanced Hatha Yoga Video Sample - Nico Luce

Enjoy a new Advanced Hatha Yoga Class featuring Nico Lucesoli on My Yoga Online. This intermediate-advanced sequence of yoga asanas is designed to embrace the flow of your breath. Through the exploration of hip openers, backbends and balancing poses, you will invigorate your body and free your soul.
Click below to view a free video [...] yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

New Online Yoga Video: Moon Salutations

My Yoga Online is happy to announce the addition of the new Yoga class “Moon Salutations” to its online Yoga video library. This new online Yoga practice by Clara Roberts-Oss offers 60 minutes of graceful connection with asanas and breath. This vinyasa, moon salutes Yoga class emphasizes the exploration of Yoga backbends and lengthening [...] yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

Holy Divos!!!

When I was growing up, the priests, as I knew them, conformed to what I always expected of the religious. They said Mass, heard Confession, officiated during weddings, baptisms, and wakes. They were retreat masters, theology teachers, frequent lecturers (with me falling asleep half of the time). You know what I mean…
Lately, a new breed [...] yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

New Leaf

I'm getting to practice by 9 from now on. No more early morning baths. Too enervating. A nice hot shower will do. I had sooooo much more energy left for backbends. And no sense of rushing. And time for a five-minute headstand and a five-minute seated meditation before Uth Pluthi. Yes, this is going to be my new leaf.

Backbends felt good today.

YC yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

How to be enlightened in $45 or less

There's a story that Pema Chodron tells that involves a very ambitious woman who seeks enlightenment. I will paraphrase it for you here. And now.

So, this very ambitious lady goes out into the world, seeking enlightenment. She searches and searches and finally reaches the supposed source of all enlightenment, the one who can point the way for her (the "guru", if you will). I believe she finds the guru in a cave. But that's not really important to the story.

Anyway, the ambitious seeker lady stands before the guru and begs for it. Enlightenment, that is.

"You sure that's what you want?" asks the guru.

"Yes!" cries the ambitious seeker lady.

"Absolutely sure? " queries the guru again.

"Seriously, dude. Enlighten me," says the lady.

"Well, if it's what you really really want..." the guru says.

"Please...please...just...please! Enlighten me!" cries the lady in exasperation.

"Well, alrighty then. Just remember...YOU asked for this," says the guru.

And with that, a terrible, fearsome monster appears before the lady, screeching at the top of its lungs, "NOW!" And in another moment, "NOW!" And then, "NOW!" And the screeching monster follows the lady around forever. Reminding her of the present moment. Every moment. Forever. Now.

But I just discovered...there is a far, far better way. It involves no snarky gurus and no screeching monsters. And the funnyniest thing is that I discovered it in my own small Northern Westchester town: the NOW watch.

How clever is THAT?

YC yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

Make Yourself Ready

We have been asked whether someone can get liberation using a simple mantra such as Baba Nam Kevalam, and what to do if you are not near one of our meditation centers. Many years ago our Guru, Shrii Shrii Anandamurti answered the first part of the question directly He said that “In [...] yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

Yoga Chikitsa: Led Ashtanga Primary Series

As I was completely absorbed with publishing the new magazine (check it out at www.livingmysore.com), I did not have time at all to practice or do anything else yesterday. So today, before attacking that overflowing pile of stinky laundry next to the computer, I broke out Sharath's Primary Series CD and went to Mysore for one hour and fifteen minutes.

I bought this CD a couple of years ago while I was doing an intensive over at the Ashtanga Yoga Shala so that I could learn how classes are really supposed to be counted. After having been in Mysore, I can honestly say that this is an excellent way to experience a led class the way it is taught by Sharath. I really learned how ashtanga teaches us to use an economy of movement; to really move with mindfulness and place things exactly where we mean to place them. There is also no room at all for thinking because you are listening so carefully for the next vinyasa count. It is just so precise in its simplicity. I just love it!

I haven't practiced with the CD for a while, but I remember that when I first got it, I was struggling to keep up in headstand and upluthih. So you can imagine my surprise when I could stay up this time! Slowly, slowly...

I did practice at home, however, which has its drawbacks. The first being that it is really cold (but not cold enough for me to rationalize turning on the heat, which we pay for). Well, actually, that's the only drawback. It is cold energetically and physically. Part of what gets me through practice is the community.

And after sitting at the computer ALL DAY yesterday, I was so achy today. It makes me feel very worried for all those stuck in front of a computer 9-5. This is not how we are supposed to live!

Also, because it was laundry day, I had no proper practice clothing left ie a reliable sports bra. This really changes practice. More on this and teaching the led primary later...

yoga therapy; Self Improvement;