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.