These past few months in teacher training, I haven't really had to explain to my friends what it is exactly I am learning. We had this discussion at teacher training today about yoga being more than just the asana practice, even though that is what you get when you go to most yoga classes. Most people come to yoga class for the fitness aspect... and that is not necessarily bad. In the end, it doesn't really matter how they start their journey with yoga, but just that they start it.
I was talking to a friend about yoga and how there is much more to it than just the poses. When she asked interestingly about a particular yoga instructor, my heart sank because really she was just interested about a person, not about yoga. Perhaps that is how she'll start her journey.
At teacher training, we also talked about managing the gunas: tamas, rajas, and sattva. We fluctuate between the extremes tamas (lethargic/inactivity) and rajas (firey/hyperactivity). The goal is to guage where the class is generally and move towards center or sattva (equilibrium/discretion).
namaste.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Exam is done!
I wish I could have studied more for the hatha yoga exam, but no worries... I did ok on the exam today. I'm just glad it's over with.
Friday, March 27, 2009
No yoga, no good
I have not had an asana practice in a few days. Work has been busy and I have been studying for my Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Exam tomorrow. I have been going through my flash cards of asanas, but there is still so much more!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Kriya
What is kriya? Kriya teaches the laws of general conduct, including harmlessness, truthfulness, non-stealing.
Today in Sanieh's class, she began with kapalabati breathing seated. Then we went through a few rounds of sun salutations. Then while in Virabhadrasana I, we held the position and assumed kapalabati breathing.
We basically incorporated breathing techniques with the postures. At the end of class, she demonstrated uddiyana banddha where she hollowed out her belly. The class was stunned. She talked us through it. Then we had a few minutes to play with it.
For compensation, we were in a gentle dwi pada pithm. I used a block and rested. Savasana felt short today.
Today in Sanieh's class, she began with kapalabati breathing seated. Then we went through a few rounds of sun salutations. Then while in Virabhadrasana I, we held the position and assumed kapalabati breathing.
We basically incorporated breathing techniques with the postures. At the end of class, she demonstrated uddiyana banddha where she hollowed out her belly. The class was stunned. She talked us through it. Then we had a few minutes to play with it.
For compensation, we were in a gentle dwi pada pithm. I used a block and rested. Savasana felt short today.
Monday, March 23, 2009
New to Yoga
Today I taught a private class to a coworker who has never done yoga. She told me that she didn't want to take a class for a yoga studio because she didn't like the chanting. So, we didn't do any chanting.
I introduced her to a few basic postures. Since she is a pretty athletic and flexible person, she found most of the postures easy. I advised that since some of these postures are isometric; you will get out of it what you put into it.
The last few teacher training sessions have really helped me look for release valves which has helped me call out certain things like "that back leg should be active" and "press the heel down". It feels nice to be able to spot those little details that help refine the posture.
My coworker really enjoyed the class and will be back next week. She plans to take some more yoga classes too!
I introduced her to a few basic postures. Since she is a pretty athletic and flexible person, she found most of the postures easy. I advised that since some of these postures are isometric; you will get out of it what you put into it.
The last few teacher training sessions have really helped me look for release valves which has helped me call out certain things like "that back leg should be active" and "press the heel down". It feels nice to be able to spot those little details that help refine the posture.
My coworker really enjoyed the class and will be back next week. She plans to take some more yoga classes too!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Oh Sirsasana... at last, I have done it!
Headstand... It's been years in the making. I consider myself to be someone very in touch with her body, core, pelvic rotation, etc. I have not been able to do headstand, atleast not without help of a person, prop, wall, etc.
Today, I volunteered for the same group of advance teacher trainees to be a guinea pig. Their lead teacher Sadani gave me a one-on-one class on how to do headstand while the trainees observed. Sadani lead me through some postures for preparation:
cakravakasana, varjasana (one sided), adho mukha svanasana, pavritti trikonasana (equal weight and balance), ardha uttanasana (with pelvic rotation), cakravakasana, dolphin, sirsasana. For compensation, sarvangasana, cobra, cakravakasana, apasanasana, and arms overhead supine(feet on floor).
Disappointed in myself and trying not to be, I couldn't lift my feet off the floor. Sadani let me rest in savasana for a few minutes while she wrote down the sequence that we did and gave it to me afterward. She suggested that I practice this sequence daily for going into sirsasana.
I went home and a few hours later, did the practice, and then was able to go into headstand! Yay! The key was in the pelvic rotation. It wasn't my core lacking; it was that I finally figured out where to access that pelvic rotation.
I am a very happy yogini!
Today, I volunteered for the same group of advance teacher trainees to be a guinea pig. Their lead teacher Sadani gave me a one-on-one class on how to do headstand while the trainees observed. Sadani lead me through some postures for preparation:
cakravakasana, varjasana (one sided), adho mukha svanasana, pavritti trikonasana (equal weight and balance), ardha uttanasana (with pelvic rotation), cakravakasana, dolphin, sirsasana. For compensation, sarvangasana, cobra, cakravakasana, apasanasana, and arms overhead supine(feet on floor).
Disappointed in myself and trying not to be, I couldn't lift my feet off the floor. Sadani let me rest in savasana for a few minutes while she wrote down the sequence that we did and gave it to me afterward. She suggested that I practice this sequence daily for going into sirsasana.
I went home and a few hours later, did the practice, and then was able to go into headstand! Yay! The key was in the pelvic rotation. It wasn't my core lacking; it was that I finally figured out where to access that pelvic rotation.
I am a very happy yogini!
What is Lily reading?
Short little readings each day. The book is broken up by day, ie. Day
1, Day 2, etc. One reading for each day of the year. Each day begins
with a quote that reflects what the reading is about.
Namaste
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Getting some personal attention
A few of us from yoga teacher training volunteered to be used as subjects for an advance level teacher training course focusing on how to teach a private yoga class. We each paired up with a teacher-in-training.
My teacher was Fannie. I enjoyed her smooth and calming voice. She did not know what I wanted to work on, so it was a total on-the-spot, think-on-your-feet moment. She handled it really well. She asked very good questions about my regular practice which helped her put together a practice for me that day. I talked about my hamstrings. I wanted to them to be more stretched. I talked about going in to half pigeon and wanting that experience to be better.
Although she did not write down the sequence after for me, and I had a 2 minute savasana, she gave me two postures to take home to do. I believe that was very good on her part. The two are: half gomukasana and supta baddha konasana. These are for stretching the periformis.
Afterwards, each of us test subjects wrote feedback for our teacher. I thoroughly enjoyed having a set of eyes on me and letting me know how I was doing along the way.
My teacher was Fannie. I enjoyed her smooth and calming voice. She did not know what I wanted to work on, so it was a total on-the-spot, think-on-your-feet moment. She handled it really well. She asked very good questions about my regular practice which helped her put together a practice for me that day. I talked about my hamstrings. I wanted to them to be more stretched. I talked about going in to half pigeon and wanting that experience to be better.
Although she did not write down the sequence after for me, and I had a 2 minute savasana, she gave me two postures to take home to do. I believe that was very good on her part. The two are: half gomukasana and supta baddha konasana. These are for stretching the periformis.
Afterwards, each of us test subjects wrote feedback for our teacher. I thoroughly enjoyed having a set of eyes on me and letting me know how I was doing along the way.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Mentor-mentees meeting
Sanieh met with Keith, Deana, and I to discuss anything we had on our minds. I think most of us in teacher training are realizing that there is still so much to learn!
Sanieh brought some gifts for us from India and some yogic books. I am very thankful for the insight Sanieh has shared with us about her evolution and path as a teacher. The most important thing to remember is that it is a path... be patient. Learn from your experiences.
Sanieh brought some gifts for us from India and some yogic books. I am very thankful for the insight Sanieh has shared with us about her evolution and path as a teacher. The most important thing to remember is that it is a path... be patient. Learn from your experiences.
Bound Sunbird
It was so nice to be in Sanieh's first class since she got back from India. You can tell she was still in bliss from her trip. She exuded peace, and I felt so peaceful. Throughout the class, she would remind us that you should not feel worse leaving a yoga class than when you arrived. No matter where you are, do what serves you. Before we started, she suggested some blankets for those with sensitive knees.
Our peak posture was ... a variation on Sunbird, where the opposite hand and foot were bound for a more intense back bend. The key of course was to check the grounded arm to make sure that its shoulder was drawn back like the lifted arm. She offered the option of a strap for those who's hand and foot did not touch.
To prepare for this posture, we were in a rested salabasana (so it was more of an axial extension than a backband), puppy pose, eka pada ustrasana. Also, in a kneeled lunge posture, we would circle our hands forward, around, behind, curl the wrists inwards, then forward again. Here we focused on fluidity and not rushing.
To compensate, we did balasana, apanasana and jathra pavritti.
I think Sanieh prepped us so well, that there wasn't much compensation needed. This morning, I feel great.
Our peak posture was ... a variation on Sunbird, where the opposite hand and foot were bound for a more intense back bend. The key of course was to check the grounded arm to make sure that its shoulder was drawn back like the lifted arm. She offered the option of a strap for those who's hand and foot did not touch.
To prepare for this posture, we were in a rested salabasana (so it was more of an axial extension than a backband), puppy pose, eka pada ustrasana. Also, in a kneeled lunge posture, we would circle our hands forward, around, behind, curl the wrists inwards, then forward again. Here we focused on fluidity and not rushing.
To compensate, we did balasana, apanasana and jathra pavritti.
I think Sanieh prepped us so well, that there wasn't much compensation needed. This morning, I feel great.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Setting expectations
Today in my class, one of the students had to leave exactly at 1:30. But he arrived late at 12:40. We waited for him since it was just the 3 of us. Perhaps it was my mistake to wait for him. But we did not finish by 1:30, so he got up and left.
"Hold the space"... that was said this past weekend in YY teacher training. I thought about it and kept going to finish out the class. I have to remember that this will most likely happen in a regular class, so I need to not be distracted by such actions.
I got good feedback from the remaining student. He said the class was hard for him today because he had to concentrate. The balance postures were good for him because activities that require concentration is what he enjoys.
Awesome.
"Hold the space"... that was said this past weekend in YY teacher training. I thought about it and kept going to finish out the class. I have to remember that this will most likely happen in a regular class, so I need to not be distracted by such actions.
I got good feedback from the remaining student. He said the class was hard for him today because he had to concentrate. The balance postures were good for him because activities that require concentration is what he enjoys.
Awesome.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Personal Practice
In need of movement today, I went down to the gym to stretch out. It's a weird concept for me to say I'm going to do yoga but not have an agenda. I suppose that is the beautiful thing about where I am right now. I can move from one posture into another and not have to think too much about it. Just move.
Teaching, however, takes a little more effort and planning!
Teaching, however, takes a little more effort and planning!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Teaching the joint series
I've realized that no matter what you are teaching, how your students accept the information totally depends on the delivery of the information.
I taught the joint series to my class of 2 today. Easy as it was, my students really enjoyed it as much as I did. There has been a little doubt in my mind as to what I teach may or may not appeal to the person. Realistically, this is the case... so I just need to accept that.
I taught the joint series to my class of 2 today. Easy as it was, my students really enjoyed it as much as I did. There has been a little doubt in my mind as to what I teach may or may not appeal to the person. Realistically, this is the case... so I just need to accept that.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
The Art of Assisting
Assisting is an art for sure. In YYTT today, we partnered up and taught our partner to do one variation of Virabhdrasana I. Assisting a person requires gentle touch and a little coaching with words like "press into my touch" if you are wanting them to move their a certain part of their body in a certain direction.
I look forward to doing these little "assists" during my teaching.
I look forward to doing these little "assists" during my teaching.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
YYTT - Virabhdrasana I in different traditions
It was an amazing experience at YYTT today... to do one asana, namely Virabhdrasana I or Warrior I, in 5 different styles: Anusara, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Kripalu, and Viniyoga. In comparison:
1. Anusara emphasized on opening of the chest for a deeper backband. The lunge was low.
2. Ashtanga emphasize strong and bound hands over head, but with a lift in the legs. The front knee is over the toes.
3. Iyengar is about the alignment (but not necessarily proper alignment for the individual). The over look is similar to Ashtanga.
4. Kripalu's main difference was in the back foot, which had the toes pointing forward and heel off the ground. This is where balance is challenged. Arms are straight up but not bound.
5. Viniyoga had the back foot in a slight angle (30 degrees) and shorter stance. The optimal arms were over head with hands clasped and palms facing upward.
My personal preference is a combination of Kripalu's legs/feet and arms but with the shorter stance of Viniyoga and Viniyoga's options of arms... for example cactus arms.
1. Anusara emphasized on opening of the chest for a deeper backband. The lunge was low.
2. Ashtanga emphasize strong and bound hands over head, but with a lift in the legs. The front knee is over the toes.
3. Iyengar is about the alignment (but not necessarily proper alignment for the individual). The over look is similar to Ashtanga.
4. Kripalu's main difference was in the back foot, which had the toes pointing forward and heel off the ground. This is where balance is challenged. Arms are straight up but not bound.
5. Viniyoga had the back foot in a slight angle (30 degrees) and shorter stance. The optimal arms were over head with hands clasped and palms facing upward.
My personal preference is a combination of Kripalu's legs/feet and arms but with the shorter stance of Viniyoga and Viniyoga's options of arms... for example cactus arms.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Anusara with Liz B.
I have been wanting to check out Liz B's class ever since she was a guest speaker at our Yoga Yoga Hatha teacher training. My friend Linda has been a regular and consistent student of Liz even before Liz had her baby. Since Mandy gave us in teacher training an introduction to Anusara, I decided it was time to give Liz a visit.
Liz is Anusara. At the beginning of class, Liz asked everyone to gather around in front of her in a semicircle and share something. Most people said they had a stressful day, but some went into detail about their day. I believe this is the "community" aspect of Anusara. Then we chanted the Anusara invocation.
As soon as we got back to our mats, Liz explained the arm to should connection. In other yoga class, most teachers merely talk about "plugging in", but Liz goes into depth. We explore and feel this action before we even begin our asana practice.
Throughout the practice, Liz reminds us to draw the arm bones in and wrap the muscles around our arm bones. Our peak pose was the hand stand. But before getting there we first did the "L" pose with our feet flat on the wall. Especially in this posture you can feel the arm and shoulder connection.
Afterwards, we were in uttitha trikonasana for a while. In this posture, Liz used her Anusara language to guide us to first stick out our butt (outer spiral of the pelvis) and outer of the front leg's thigh... lots of inner spirals and outer spirals. Regardless though, I felt the work of trikonasana in my obliques the next day.
Liz is Anusara. At the beginning of class, Liz asked everyone to gather around in front of her in a semicircle and share something. Most people said they had a stressful day, but some went into detail about their day. I believe this is the "community" aspect of Anusara. Then we chanted the Anusara invocation.
As soon as we got back to our mats, Liz explained the arm to should connection. In other yoga class, most teachers merely talk about "plugging in", but Liz goes into depth. We explore and feel this action before we even begin our asana practice.
Throughout the practice, Liz reminds us to draw the arm bones in and wrap the muscles around our arm bones. Our peak pose was the hand stand. But before getting there we first did the "L" pose with our feet flat on the wall. Especially in this posture you can feel the arm and shoulder connection.
Afterwards, we were in uttitha trikonasana for a while. In this posture, Liz used her Anusara language to guide us to first stick out our butt (outer spiral of the pelvis) and outer of the front leg's thigh... lots of inner spirals and outer spirals. Regardless though, I felt the work of trikonasana in my obliques the next day.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Teaching the Self
Both of my students were not able to attend class today, so I went to my class and did a personal practice. I intentionally did my practice slowly so that I can feel and think about how to articulate each posture and transition from one to another smoothly and effectively.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Bits of yoga throughout the day
I have been sewing since yesterday after my yoga class. I woke up this morning feeling stiff and achy. So, I started this morning with some stretching. My latest favorite has been eka pada ustrasana. It could possibly be because I had to research it.
I interspersed a 10 minute practice throughout the day. After a couple hours of sewing I got off my chair and started moving. It's like doing yoga all day long!
In the evening, I did some light reading in the Heart of Yoga.
I interspersed a 10 minute practice throughout the day. After a couple hours of sewing I got off my chair and started moving. It's like doing yoga all day long!
In the evening, I did some light reading in the Heart of Yoga.
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