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Yoga Maiden
Within the Abyss | Time and Thought are breathless
within the Abyss
Visions of whole lifetimes, appear, merge, disappear, and like the ocean i receive.
the earth trembles in my head and i know we are all just a veil between Heaven and Earth. So, i remove it
I Recognize and Behold God.
painting by Walter Wimberly. Squarey Night at the Abyss.
[...] | | 3/15/2010 2:31:21 AM |
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CRON yogitect
home pants transit | home is where you hang your hat.  does anyone know what those slats in the sliding part of the armoire are for? maybe it's for ladies' scarfs. i tried hanging pants from it, but they did not fit correctly. oh, geez. sorry to ask. is it for female undergarments? haha. i'm laughing.  the cybershalamates where patient while in transit. | | 3/15/2010 12:22:00 AM |
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My Yoga Blog
Attitude | Ashtanga yoga means the eight folded path and at the end stands enlightenment. I was searching in my books if I could find some further infos about it. I found a sentence in the book by Sweeney: "The attainment of the state of yoga occurs through effortlessness and grace of Brahma." Ok, let it happen. So far I agree. More next time.
I also read another sentence in the book by Sweeney that shall be my guide today: "Remember to keep your sense of humour. Do not take the practice , or yourself too seriously. Take what you will from every book or teacher that you encounter, but try to keep a light-hearted attitude. The practice may be the vehicle that guides your process, but it is the process that is important.
Today I go again to a Mysore class. M is back. Three times in a row I will practice second series. How I love it. | | 3/14/2010 11:12:00 PM |
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No Sleep To Mysore
| IS CHICAGO BEIRUT ON THE LAKE, OR THE MILAN OF THE MIDWEST?
The New Yorker recently ran a profile of Chicago mayor Richard Daley, by Evan Osnos. According to Chicago Reader columnist Ben Jorvavsky, Osnos is "a former [Chicago] Tribune reporter who's spent most of his career in New York and overseas and now lives in China."
Joravsky wrote a wonderful rebuttal to Osnos's puff piece, called "Taking the New Yorker for a Ride: The Chicago in Evan Osnos's Story is the Chicago You'd see out the Window of the Mayor's Limo." Here's an excerpt:
Osnos invokes the old Wall Street Journal line about Chicago being "Beirut on the lake" in the 1980s, as Washington and his white City Council battled for control of city government. "Daley took office at a moment when Chicago was paralyzed by infighting and mismanagement," Osnos writes. "In 1987 William Bennett, the Secretary of Education, said that Chicago had the worst school system in the country—'an education meltdown.' The center of the city was a desiccating museum of masterpieces by Mies van der Rohe and Louis Sullivan. Infant mortality in remote neighborhoods was comparable to levels in the Third World."
But then in 1989 Richie took charge, and "in the years that followed, Detroit, Cleveland, and other former industrial powers continued to wither, but Chicago did not. It has grown in population, income, and diversity; it has added more jobs since 1993 than Los Angeles and Boston combined. Downtown luxury condos and lofts have replaced old warehouses and office blocks. New trees and flower beds line the sidewalks and sprout from the roofs of high-rises. (Chicago has significantly more green roofs than any other city in America.) Diners and pizza joints have given way to daring restaurants like Alinea and L2O, where the chefs Grant Achatz and Laurent Gras are among America's highest priests of the chemically complex food known as molecular gastronomy. Chicago is a post-industrial capital of innovation from house music to fashion—the Milan of the Midwest, as the Washington Post put it last year."
OK, stop. I can't take it anymore. Who wrote this stuff, Billy Dec? I like a good meal as much as the next guy, but what the hell does any of this have to do with Mayor Daley?
The downtown real estate boom was part of a larger demographic shift that started in the 1980s. It's true that it was fortified with the hundreds of millions of property tax dollars Daley has handed over to well-connected developers and corporations, but it's also true that thousands of the swank new condos are empty because there's nobody in the market to fill them.
Osnos also repeats City Hall's boast about leading the country in buildings with green roofs. But as the Reader has reported, his administration has also failed to offer residents a real recycling program, stood by as two coal-fired power plants on the southwest side produce dangerous air pollution, and done little to implement its own plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
And while I'm at it—house music? House music originated in the late 1970s, when Frankie Knuckles started spinning at the Warehouse on South Jefferson. If any mayor should get credit for house music, it's Michael Bilandic....
Joravsky is just warming up, and best is yet to come (especially the kicker); read his piece in its entirety here.
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Photo snapped a few weeks ago by CK (c) 2010. | | 3/14/2010 3:39:00 PM |
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Woke Up This Morning
Nice and slow | I might take this easy, seeing as how it's been a while since I wrote on here. Find my way back into a grove, or find that there's no real grove there after all and give up on this for good. Will just have to see what comes out of the woodwork, out of the finger tips onto the page. There's certain things that I'm not going to write about, the things that made me stop writing this blog in the first place, atleast for now anyway, just to make sure that I'm not incriminating myself here or further down the line. We'll see.
Small steps and all that..... | | 3/14/2010 12:52:50 PM |
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Ashtanga Jump Back
Vinyasa Krama Inverted Sequence | This week I'm moving on to the Inverted sequence, the plan being to spend a week on each of the VK sequences to improve familiarity before alternating the sequences daily. I was a little confused about how to approach them. In a newsletter, Ramaswami discusses Sarvangasana and Sirsasana together and in his book, Yoga beneath the surface, he talks about them as being preparatory as well as counter poses to eachother. In Yoga for the three stages of life he puts the two sequences together in the same section. However, in The Complete book of Vinyasa Yoga the Shoulder stand subroutine appears at the end of the Supine sequence, while the headstands dominate the Inverted sequence, which also includes forearm stands and some other arm balance poses.
Looking at the three books together plus the newsletter and bringing it altogether the recommendation seems to be the following.
A mudra pose that engages the bandhas. (I'm choosing Maha Mudra as it opens the hips and there are some lotus poses to come. Before this though I tend to start my practice with some Tadasana and a couple of Sury's)
The Sarvangasana preparatory poses... Apanasana (pelvic lift) U- formation (arms and legs raised while supine) Dwipadpitam (Desk pose)
Savangasana Subroutine (As prep for headstand, I do around fifteen minutes of Shoulder stand variations, I stop before the lotus variations)
Sirsasana Subroutine ( Took me around thirty minutes this morning, around three long slow steady breaths engaging moola and uddiyana bandha during exhale retention while in each of the variations)
Childs pose Sarvangasana (switching back to Shoulder stands here as counter poses for headstand and supposedly to retain the benefits longer. I do the unsupported Shoulder stand variations from the end of the Subroutine)
Padmasana (It's recommended to finish with a seated pose for ten minutes or so).
The Sirsasana and Sarvangasana Subroutines follow a similar pattern in their variations. While up in the the pose you tend to start by bringing the legs to the chest individually and then together as well as in half lotus. This is followed by bringing the legs to the floor individually then together, some lotus variations, halasana variations etc in the Sarvangasana subroutine as well as some unsupported shoulder stand variations. You finish off with some inverted backbend postures.
Latter in the week I'll try to add some pictures and possible a couple of videos to give more of an idea of the Subroutines.
UPDATE ...or I can just embed this 1938 video of Krishnamacharya himself doing some of the inversion variations. This is of course a Demo, In Ramaswami's book you tend to repeat the variations three to six times. My whole practice this morning took a little under 90 minutes, which included about half hour each in Sisasana and Sarvangasana.
This is from Ramaswami's August 09 newsletter, where he discusses these inversions.
HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE …… The two important inversion poses, Sirasasana and its better half Sarvangasana, called the King and Queen of yogasanas are a unique contribution of Yoga towards physical culture and physical therapy. Several contemporary yogis have disputed the place of these poses and have claimed that they perhaps are later day inventions. But in Hatayoga they are considered as viparita karani mudras. Hatayogapradipika refers to inversions as follows “ There is a wonderful karana or procedure which helps to starve the sun,( here the gastric fire). One may learn it only from a Guru, and not from the books. If the position of the sun(stomach) is above and the moon(the head) below (i.e., upside down) it is called viparitakarani(inversion). Learn it from a Guru “ The pelvic area—kandasthana-, according to some yogis is a breeding ground for many ailments. It is also the area from where 72.000 nadis are said to emanate and also Kundalini. This area should be kept clean. The dross should be burnt and blown away, figuratively speaking. How does the Yogi do it? We have an air principle in that area which is Apana Vayu. We have also the fire principle in us in the abdominal area in the form of gastric fire or Jataraagni. This flame is flowing upwards and in the normal upright position the gastric fire is above the pelvic area, flowing upward, sometimes when overactive, produces a burning sensation in the esophagus producing the typical ‘heart burn”. The Yogi by resorting to the inversions, as Headstand and Sarvangasana, is able to place the pelvic area above the gastric area. Now the gastric fire or jataragni,-- figuratively speaking—flows towards the pelvic area and heats and purifies the Nadias and the Kandasthan, arouses the Kundalini with the heat. The fire is further supposed to be fanned and intensified by directing the air tatwa or apana by Mula bandh; it draws the apana closer to the fire principle and thereby the apana air also becomes hotter and in turn melts away the dross of the kandasthana and arouses the sleeping kundalini. So headstand and shoulderstand, the mulabandha and the intense gastric fire help to cleanse the nadis and the rogasthana or the disease prone area is cleaned and spruced up. There is another interesting concept associated with the inversions of which I may have referred to in one of the earlier letters/articles. It is said that our head contains a liquid called amrita which may be translated as nectar. This nectar gives us life and drips drop by drop through the uvula into the stomach where it is consumed by the gastric fire to provide the life energy to live. This reservoir of nectar is slowly used up and with its total depletion comes the end of one’s life. The Yogi tries to ration the flow of the nectar, by remaining in inverted position for a length of time every day—say between half an hour to an hour or so. During the period of time the yogi is in head stand and shoulder stand, the amrita remains stored in the head without dripping down. The Hatayogapradika has this to say The Hatayogapradipika explains the inversion mudra as follows. “The cool nectar that flows from the moon (here the head) is swallowed by the hot sun (the gastric fire). Hence one’s body becomes aged. There is a wonderful karana or procedure which helps to starve the sun, (here the gastric fire). One may learn it only from a Guru, and not from the books. If the position of the sun is above and the moon below (i.e., upside down) it is called viparitakarani(inversion). Learn it from a Guru. Do abhyaa of this inverted pose and increase the duration every day. One who practices this for a yaama (3 hrs) daily will conquer death”. When I was young I came across a Yogi who was said to be practising sirsasana for three hours every day. His face had a unique bluish tinge. He also practised Mouna or silence. So by this daily practice, the Yogi is able to increase, so to say, his/her lifespan by 5%, or say between 3 to 5 years. Normally after Headstand the yogi is supposed to spend equal time in shoulder stand as well. In shoulder stand, amrita while still confined to the skull/ brain portion, now is allowed to flow to the entire head portion above the neck and nourish all the sensitive sense organs, the two eyes, the two ears, the mouth and the nose (shanmukha). This is also considered necessary to maintain the acuity of the sense organs as they are way up in the body and may not get the full nourishment . Sarvangasana therefore is considered good for the sense organs whereas the headstand is good for the brain. The normal upright position and the chin up position in which we keep our head, both result in a wasteful free flow of the limited amrita in the head down the uvula to the gastric fire, like a free flowing tap. The Yogis found it necessary to constantly control the flow of this nectar and even temporarily stop it. They developed a simple technique called Jalandhara bandha to temporarily stop and control the flow. The term Jalandhara-bandha itself indicates the effect it is said to produce. Jala means water and here it refers to the amrita or nectar which is said to be in the liquid form. Dhara is to hold, here holding the amrita in the head itself and bandha is the lock, the procedure which helps to achieve the holding operation. So Jalandharabandha means the lock that enables holding the nectar in the head. Of course while we do asanas and pranayama we adjust the bandha in such a way that we allow only a small and necessary amount of amrita to flow and also maintain a good ujjayi control over the breath. That is why the default position of the head in asana practice whether it is tadasana or the seated Padmasana or Vajrasana is the head down position. One could see the pictures of my Guru doing asanas and one could see his head down position in most of them—even in asanas like urdhvamukha svanasana or the well known upward facing dog pose. In the entire vinyasakrama one would find the relaxed default head down position is resorted to control the flow of amrita and the ujjayi breath. Some contemporary yogis may read these metaphorical narrations with a wry smile. However these inversions should be considered as unique contributions of Yoga, for health. Within the first few minutes of Sirsasana practice, the leg and thigh muscles, the gluteal muscles, relax. The chest, back, shoulders and neck muscles also relax as all these are not required to maintain the postural tone as in the upright position. It has been found that due to the relaxation of the leg muscles, the blood pressure in the legs drop to about 30mm.There is no great rush of blood to the head among the adept yogis due to auto regulation; yet the gravity helps to open up many capillaries in the brain, head and face which may otherwise remain partially closed. People with high blood pressure and retinal problems will have to be careful. However persons with mild hypertension and under control with diet, life style change and even medication could benefit from this posture if they had learnt it from early life. It appears to increase pressure on the shoulders which would result in the brain trying to reduce the blood pressure. Therefore if one would practice Sirshasana regularly for a sufficient duration, one’s pulse rate tends to reduce, thereby reducing the strain on the heart. Gradually there is a reduction in the blood pressure. What is equally important is that Sirsasana helps improve circulation of the cerebro spinal fluid, which is helpful to the brain and also for the spinal nerve bundles—the chakras. Because of the increased pressure in the brain due to this fluid, the pituitary secretions increase helping the better functioning of the sympathetic nervous system which will help in many ways including the dilatation of the bronchial tubes giving great relief to asthmatics. There is draining of the bronchial tubes, giving some welcome relief for those with chronic chest congestion. Many feel increased memory power and general better brain capacity. There are cases of even some correction of the eyesight. The vinyasas like the twists, Akunchanasana, the backbends like Viparitadandasana in Sirsasana and Uttanamayurasana in Sarvangasana help the spine considerably, by not only maintaining the flexibility of this structure but also nourish the nadis and chakras or nerve fibers and nerve bundles in the spinal chord. In the inversions, as mentioned in earlier articles, the internal organs get positional correction. Pregnant yoginis may find the inversions help relieve pelvic congestion, oedema of the legs, conditions that are prevalent during pregnancy. Practising the inverted poses with the variety of vinyasas gives a complete massage to all the muscles, organs and considerably increases the blood circulation. Perhaps equally important is the effect of the twin poses on the major joints-- the ankles, the knees, the hips and the spine. The intra-articular space within the joints improves and hence the joint movements when one does the various vinyasas also will improve. Dorsal and plantar flexions performed in the ankle joints while in these asanas help the ankles significantly. Asanas like Akunchanasana in inversions give good relief to the knees, while inversions help to open the hips by dragging the big pelvic girdle down a bit and giving more space for the femur to move and rotate nicely within the hip socket(pl refer to Complete Book of Vinyasa Yoga for headstand and shoulder stand vinyasas). Perhaps the most benefit accrues to the entire spine. The inter-vertebral space is enhanced and person who practises these inversions and the vinyasas like akunchanasana and backbends will find the spine stretching nicely and becoming more flexible. The narrowing of the inter-vertebral space can be tackled positively and the low back pain reduces significantly. I would say that the inversions are the best yoga postures to alleviate low back pain. Overall these inversions and the vinyasas in them help to keep the spine supple and strong. It is said one is as old as the condition of the spine. Further, because of the relaxation of the lower extremities Sarvangasana is a good pose to help overcome insomnia. These twin poses are very good for health. Contemporary Yogis find the other important inversion, viz., the Handstand or Vipritvrukshasna very popular. This is a great pose, with a number of variations possible. However since the head is not fixed in this group of poses, some of the finer aspects of the other two head- fixed inversions (sarvangasana and sirshasana) may be missing. One finds it more difficult to maintain balance and also stay for a sufficiently long time in viparitavrikshasana or inverted tree pose (Hand Stand) and other similar poses like scorpion pose etc. These two regal poses stand ‘head and shoulders’ above the rest in conferring health benefits to the yogabhyasis. | | 3/14/2010 12:08:00 PM |
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A Lotus Girl
from the Executive Director of the Life is Good Kids Foundation.... | This is a letter written by Steve Gross, the Executive Director of the LIG(Life is Good) Kid’s Foundation. The company that I work for here in California. What he experienced while in Haiti on a recent trip there...
I have photos as well...but they were sent in Microsoft Word so I can't figure out how to post them...they are pretty amazing if i can ever figure it out.
Have I mentioned how Proud I am to work for such an Amazing, Giving Company? Well..if I haven't, just for the record..I am Very Proud!
"Do what you like, Like what you do"
Hey Gang,
Below is a note we wanted to share with you from Steve Gross, the Executive Director of the LIG Kid’s Foundation, on his trip to Haiti last week. The main purpose of Steve’s trip was to form a bond with a Haitian relief partner and assess what our Foundation can do for Haiti’s traumatized children with money raised from our Haiti fundraising t-shirt. But as you’ll read, Steve was also able to conduct a training for youth workers and bring much-needed joy by playing with children who have lost everything.
As you read this keep in mind your support helped put a smile on the faces of these children.
We can’t thank you enough.
Thanks,
Brian
Brian Conroy
Director
GNS / SIS Programs
The Life is good Company
Dear Team,
I feel compelled to write. Although I can barely keep my eyes open, I'm afraid that if I don't write about today's experiences they will get lost. I know that I won't ever forget the "big picture" stuff, but I'm afraid I"ll lose the details. It's the little details that make life beautiful and, at times, heartbreaking.
I arrived at Amurt Haiti (the base camp for our operation) at 7:30am today and was asked to accompany the medical team to a small tent city in Port-au-Prince. The main medic and my buddy and colleague from Boston, Dr. Jose Hidalgo - along with an amazing team of Haitian nurses, translators and assistants - set up a make shift clinic to attend to the overwhelming medical needs of the hundreds of people who call this barren pile of broken glass, mud and rubble home. The reason that I was asked to accompany this team was that the day before had brought out lines of sick children who had to wait quietly for hours to be seen by the doctors. The team felt that a little "joy" might make the time go by easier for them. I brought along a parachute, two Life is good discs, a LIG paddle ball set, and a little red ball. I actually thought about leaving these toys behind as we obviously did not have enough to accommodate the masses of children.
I was not prepared to see how horribly these beautiful people were living. I'm not a good enough writer to adequately describe the squalor. While we set up shop, the children of the camp curiously peeked out of their "homes" to see what we were up to. We set up an examination table out of two old chairs and created a pharmacy and an intake room with some rope, a huge suitcase of medicines, and an old table. Slowly the line started to form. I noticed eight children sitting and waiting silently and decided to take out the parachute. Without words they walked over. I laid on my belly and invited them to join. They did. We looked at each other, smiled, waved and kept quietly singing "bonjour" to a universally familiar nursery rhyme tune. We drummed on the ground together, laughed and continued singing. Within minutes, twenty new children joined us. Within a few more minutes, twenty more. Before I knew it, well over seventy children, ages two to thirteen, had come to play.
Then we joined hands. We moved together as a group up a small hill of rubble (some of the children had no shoes so we had to walk really slowly) and began singing together, moving our arms together and making up little games that did not involve them having to run. One big hit was having the children sit in a circle and pass around the hat from my head until everyone touched it and it made its way back to me. Then, through our interpreter (a young Haitian boy from the village), I asked if they thought that my hat could beat me in a race? As they passed it around quickly, I ran around the circle trying to get back to my spot before the hat did. You should have heard the place erupt with laughter when I "accidentally fell" and the hat beat me home! By this time, parents, grandparents and others had gathered round to see what was happening. We played together for what seemed like hours (maybe I'm just getting old) taking make believe safaris in Africa, imagining stomping through the snow in Canada, building castles with little pieces of rubble, and just hanging out. David Elkind once said that the best toy a child could ever have is a loving, caring, attentive adult. Never have truer words been spoken.
After a while, some teens approached me. They wanted to know who I was, shake my hand, and thank me for "loving the children's". I told them that I would be leaving tomorrow and asked them if they would "love the children" while I was gone. I explained to them that all they had to do was look at them, smile at them, ask them how they were doing, and hug them when they needed a hug. I also left them with the few toys we brought. (The rest of the toys we brought were being used in a different center in Port-au-Prince) and asked them to play with the children a little bit too when they had the energy. They promised that they would.
As I was getting ready to leave for the day, I needed to get something out of our truck. It was parked about half a mile from the site on a steep hill. As I walked up the hill, a 10 year old boy quietly grabbed my hand. We walked together in silence for five minutes and then another boy, probably around 7, grabbed my other hand. We walked up the hill silently - occasionally looking at each other and smiling. Once we made it to the truck, we shared a small bag of water (yes bag) and sat together silently just holding hands. I noticed that one of the boys had no shoe laces. I found a rope in the back of the truck, cut it with Ismael's knife and the three of us unwound the strands until we had a thin enough piece of string to use as a shoe lace. Together, silently, we laced up the little boy’s shoes. After we finished, he looked at his "new shoes", smiled and kept repeating "merci, merci, merci". He was so happy - like I had given him the world. I've never seen such appreciation in all my life - never. This is one detail that I never want to forget.
My heart aches for these children. They have been forgotten. But my spirit is lifted by them too. I did not know that it was possible to feel such intense joy and sorrow at the same time until today. It's one thing to see the glass as "half full" when it's indeed half full. It's another to see it as half full when it only has one drop inside. This is what the children of Haiti are all about. They are surviving, with unimaginable grace, love and joy, with only one drop in their cup. I can't imagine what they could grow to be if we filled their glass just a little bit more.
Anyway, we then went to a much larger tent city where I was asked to run a training for Haitian youth workers there. Again - once the parachute came out and we started playing, the whole camp gathered. Hungry, tired, sick and thirsty - nobody could resist the desire to play. I had to see it to believe it. I wish you were all here to see it with me.
We'll be back!
Love to you all...
Steve | | 3/14/2010 10:17:00 AM |
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Globie
Aching now | A good practice at YP with Susan this morning, the warm morning sunshine streaming in to add to the Shala’s heating. Standing were OK, I have been able to do the standing poses despite the intercostal and Susan’s PPC assist didn’t stress the injury, it just nicely stretched it out for me, much further than [...] | | 3/14/2010 9:08:37 AM |
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Peace Love Yoga
Whispers of the Beloved | I cannot sleep in your prescence.
In your absence, tears prevent me.
You watch me My Beloved
On each sleepless night and
Only You see the difference Looking at my life
I see that only Love
Has been my soul’s companion
From deep inside
My soul cries out:
Do not wait, surrender
For the sake of Love. If you can’t smell the fragrance
Don’t come into the garden of Love.
If you’re unwilling to undress
Don’t enter into the stream of Truth.
Stay where you are.
Don’t come our way. All year round the lover is mad,
Unkempt, lovesick and in disgrace.
Without love there is nothing but grief.
In love… what else matters? Love is our Mother and
The way of our Prophet.
Yet it is in our nature
To fight with Love.
We can’t see you, mother,
Hidden behind dark veils
Woven by ourselves. Do you want to enter paradise?
To walk the path of Truth
You need the grace of God.
We all face death in the end.
But on the way, be careful
Never to hurt a human heart! Do you know what the music is saying?
“Come follow me and you will find the way.
Your mistakes can also lead you to the Truth.
When you ask, the answer will be given.” The Master who’s full of sweetness
Is so drunk with love, he’s oblivious.
“Will you give me
some of your sweetness?”
“I have none,” he says,
unaware of his richness. You know what love is?
It is all kindness, generosity.
Disharmony prevails when
You confuse lust with love, while
The distance between the two
Is endless. This Love is a King
But his banner is hidden.
The Koran speaks the Truth
But its miracle is concealed.
Love has pierced with its arrow
The heart of every lover.
Blood flows but the wound is invisible. (Rumi)
| | 3/14/2010 8:40:00 AM |
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Journeys
Just booked Dena's workshop in Bali! | I'm so excited - and a little bit scared! I've just booked to do Dena's Ashtanga workshop in Bali at the beginning of October ... wowwww!! It's for a week starting the 2nd October, in Ubud.
Ooh, it's all starting to feel real - the big 2010 overseas trip! After Bali I'm flying to London where I'll base myself with my sister who lives there. As well as spending time with Judy, I have lots of friends and family around the UK and Ireland to visit. And I'll also be spending 7-10 days with my friend Wendi in southern Portugal (though we may go to Morocco too!) I'll be away around 6 weeks ... (hooray for long service leave I say!) I had originally planned to go to London first (in September) and then do the Bali workshop on my way home. But I discovered that my plans didn't coincide with Judy's plans - she and her husband will be away on holiday for most of September! So I just swapped the times around - learning to be flexible ‹grin›
And ... a bit scared? Well, I guess it's just who knows what will happen between now and then ... :) I remember the last time I booked a big yoga workshop in advance, I came back from India (to go to it in Sydney) with giardia and there was no way I could go! And having been sick, I know nothing is for sure! But still - I feel like I'm investing in the future! | | 3/11/2010 1:10:00 AM |
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Ashtanga Journal
Split from Primary | Well, it is a whole new territory now! Last Sunday's led intermediate was okay despite me being really nervous about it. The first Surya Namaskar and Sharath tells Nick to move his mat to the front and makes us all wait in Chaturanga and begins counting 1,2,3.... and laughs... We were about 40 people and there were as many on the doorway watching us. I found rescue by placing myself next to Jeff. We were at the back, very close to the "office" ( not the new one). I was afraid of the Bakasanas, Bakasana A was alright, with B, I hopped, top of my feet touched the ground, pulled them up and survived 5 breaths on my sweaty arms and jumping back was a bit of a disaster :). Then, as advised by Peter, I stopped and looked at Sharath since this was my last pose he gave me; when he saw me, he moved his hand indicating to continue, so I did. Bharadvajasana and Ardha Matsyendrasana easy as usual, so I continued and Eka Pada Shirshasana was okey and then sweet Dvi Pada Shirsana which was pitiful... of course this time there were not all that primary series to open up the body before these LB postures and then the time pressure to get into them in a led class... Therefore, I heard Sharath yell "you, stop!" and of course it was me. So, we stopped, went back to the finishing postures... My first intermediate led was intense but I did it without any major embarrassment. Of course I tortured Peter about whether I would be split or not after this led and he said "I am not sure about many things but if I am sure about one thing, you get to Eka Pada and he splits you, this is how he has been doing for many years..." I still had to ask Sharath. Luckily, on Monday he was in a good mood and when I looked at him he smiled and I asked "now I do only second?" and he said "yes only second now on..." So, just like this what I have been wishing for became reality before I even expected. And now I have super short practice; it is a bit longer than one hour but it is not easy as much as it is shorter. I guess doing all that primary before the second series postures was really opening the body. After the led class I was sore on my thighs and my shoulders and in front of my ribs... On top of this, Monday I began sweating tones with Surya Namaskars and the sweat never stopped pouring and my power was very low, maybe due to the heat and maybe my body is confused to go onto second right away... But then I was tired the whole Monday and Tuesday as if I was not doing a much shorter practice... Today, I feel more in tune, getting back to normal. In the mean time, my mind was not short of producing all these questions and comments "practice is so short and not much vinyasas, what if get weaker, already I am not strong enough? Rolf does not split before Karandavasana and he still wants me to get stronger... ohh this Japanese girl was in intermediate led class, why is she doing primary series now, is she going to go onto second series after primary, ohh stop watching her concentrate!" Yes, yoga suppose to quiet the mind; I guess this is the quieter version of mine... Still I had to run to the shala on Tuesday morning and wait at the door until Sharath, who was still teaching, looked at me in a "what do you want?" way and I said I have a question, he came and I said "now I only do second but so short practice, I am afraid I will get weaker" and his response was "weaker? no, you won't get weaker, more postures are coming..." He probably thinks that I am a super Vata strange one... Well, I have to add that doing only second has a different effect emotionally and I guess this is expected since it is Nadi Shodhana which works on the nerves system while the primary series, "Yoga Chikitsa", work on the body and very much grounding... So, with only second I have been a bit more anxious but I expect that will also settle....
What else other than all this asana practice notes... Himm , on Monday I began harmonium classes with this lady who is up the street. It was utterly confusing because I know how to play the piano. I think if I did not know anything, it would be much easier but since I knew the notes and scales, what she was telling me did not make any sense. I thought of dropping this desire to learn music here... At night, I searched at the internet to get more clear about what she showed me and I read that the notes in a scale were not fixed in Indian classical music as it is in Western music. The teacher, instead of telling me this, just told me to forget what I know and later on to compare the two systems. I guess she could tell me that the notes in a scale is not fixed, so I would stop trying to make sense, because when she said Sa is Do and Ma is Re but then she hit Sol for Sa I was totally bewildered... oohh well I will try one more time tomorrow this time with my friend who knows nothing about music, lucky her...
Himmm my time moved down to 5:15 AM, I think soon enough it will be 4:30AM! it is really, but really hot here now. When we have power cuts in the evening it is so intense, sweating all over and my bed is so warm as if I have put a electric blanket.
By the way I might do Sanskrit Level I again since I don't remember anything from the last time... It begins this afternoon... still undecided... have to stop the sweet stuff, then confusion might be less as Kuckoo suggested. uhh as for sweets, I am only eating fruits and dried fruits, even that has negative effect I guess... | | 3/10/2010 1:52:00 AM |
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Southern Yogi
Winding down... | Weekend 6 of training is complete; only 3 more left! I go back again this month, and then once in April and we Graduate in May. Just can't believe it!
I really need to set aside some time to study anatomy more.
I also have 2 papers to write and lots of evaluation, assisting and teaching to do.
The weekend was fun. I went up early for Jivamukti class. That class was awesome.
Discussion on one sutra we were focusing on during class; a kick-butt asana practice, good music, pranayama and meditation. Just wonderful!
Friday night for training we had to lead our groups in meditation. That was nice.
Saturday was kids yoga and then Kundalini and Bikram.
Sunday was Shala's master class that was soo well rounded and wonderful. Then some more adjustment work and sequencing games.
We closed out with some time with Stephanie and chanting.
It is sad it is getting so close to being complete. Yet wonderful all at the same time.
So many ideas floating around in my head of what I want to do...
This morning I woke up and got on my mat. It was what I needed to start the week off right! | | 3/8/2010 12:37:00 PM |
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Yogini's Quest
All you need is love | Why do people fear love so much?
I was diving into a deep conversation with my girlfriend the other day, trying to figure out the root of some of my own insecurities. We discussed back into our adolescence and even further back into the recesses of our mind that seem to hold a lot of black [...] | | 3/6/2010 6:32:12 PM |
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Ashtanga Yogini
Manju Jois Teacher Training and Weekend workshop |  Kelli and Me 7 months pregnent :)  Manju's led class (maureen and alea doing their practice)  Manju  Saturday Led Class  Saturday Led  Led Batch in Navasana  Miss Sati  Led Practice  Monday Mysore - Hi Mona :) It's been a great week with Manju Jois here at The Yoga Shala doing his teacher training. We have one more day of the weekend workshop and then we bid farewell to Manju until next year. I've got a couple really great photos of this week - hope you enjoy! | | 3/6/2010 3:28:00 PM |
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Aum Buddhipriya
Insomnia | 
You keep me awake
With your lack of love
With promises made years ago
Why didn't I listen then?
I was youthful and had no remorse
But it's winter now, you say,
And my turn to be cruel.
Remember my humor.
This way to the gallows
My dear.
I beg: I'm not begging
But please show some mercy
I remember and regret those
Twisted, tormented memories
I won't forget again
If you'll forgive that unforgivable
Sin. I did not show you
Respect. What does that mean?
That you are free now to torture
Me at will? Make all my efforts
Futile, my womb barren?
I shall not grow old.
Immortality is not a game that
One should chance lightly. High
Stakes that one. Given the time,
Night and the inclination: a
Desire to punish you for your
Cruel nature if not
Intentions. A person just might
Find all of the keys and
All of the pieces
And put the puzzle together
Thus ending the story.
No more recess, no more books
No more faces. Death becomes her.
Still like the night, though not
Her sleep. The craving is more
than one should have to bare.
Such a beautiful flower, it put
me in all tomorrow's parties
Before I even landed in
Today.
| | 3/1/2010 9:46:00 PM |
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Renegade Reality
The Fine Line Between Sharing & Casting Judgment |  March 1, 2010, NoCo HQ, Detroit - I want to share something of an "official" statement here. Angela and I promote relocalization and the active dismantling of racism. Both request massive lifestyle changes and I'm sharing my exploration of these changes through this blog and all my work. Don't confuse my promotion and exploration of these things as my casting of judgment. I've lived many lifestyles, I know how it goes and I've proved myself human time and time again.
Though I'm very grateful for where I'm at, it would be ludicrous for someone as challenged by their choices as I to judge anyone else. We're all at different places on the path towards a just and sustainable world and, though it is not my desire to soften the message, these little status updates don't offer space for frequent and lengthy disclaimers that would keep everyone in their comfort zone. Maybe that's a good thing.
I look forward to open discussion about relocalization and race. An active discussion of exactly how we can share these things without creating more division should be one aspect of these discussions, but there's a great deal of work to do across the board.
In Health, Joy & Liberation,
Gregg Newsom
| | 3/1/2010 6:56:00 AM |
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Alfia
New toy. | Another quick note to let you know that I am still alive. I am, but barely. Do not anticipate any free time until the semester ends, and then happiness will start. Or at least I hope so. Hard to live in the moment when there is no time to breathe.
On a happier note, I have a new toy - yoga trapeze. Got it from here: yogabody trapeze Makes me happy.
Anyway, back to the composing an exam. I hope you are all doing well! | | 2/28/2010 5:46:00 PM |
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Chai And Yoga
Learn Happy Baby Pose from the Master | |
No comment necessary…
Babies are such natural yogis! I have just ordered the Itsy Bitsy Yoga book for babies, and I’m really excited to try it out. But do babies really need a book to do yoga? Seems like they already know everything there is to know!
| | 2/26/2010 10:51:07 AM |
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Living Breathing Yoga
Always Love | If nothing else, Valentine’s Day is a great excuse to write about one topic that I truly love – Love.
What is this elusive love?
It’s as commonplace as the air we breathe, and yet, as mysterious as Life itself.
 The most famous description of love, which is recounted time and time again goes like this:
Love is patient,
Love is kind.
It does not envy,
It does not boast,
It is not proud.
It is not rude,
It is not self-seeking,
It is not easily angered,
It keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil
But rejoices with the truth.
It always protects,
Always trusts,
Always hopes,
Always perseveres.
Love never fails.
It seems to me that True Love is about what we can give, and how we can serve.
It exists only when we are not concerned about the fears and wants of our small self.
It appears when we are willing to surrender and release into the Mystery of the Infinite… into something so much Greater and more potent then our own expectations, anticipated needs, or assumed desires.
If it is happiness we seek, we need to focus on loving more and desiring less.
Desires always are tainted with selfish motives, which spring up from our deepest fears, and an anxious clinging to some version of how we want life to be.
They make us smaller, and ultimately, enslave us.
Love is a Freedom song.
It heals us, and restores our soul.
It is both the most tender and most powerful force we are able to experience.
It reveals to us our true nature, as burning sparks from a Divine fire we call God.
Although today is often thought to be a day for new lovers and sappy romance, it seems to me that this is only a place to start…
Real Love is what remains after everything else has fallen away.
It is the glue that holds us all together.
It is the foundation of every deep friendship that has stood the test of time, and is the cord that connects us over lifetimes.
It is present when we know all the faults and wrongs, and misguided steps of someone, and choose to adore them anyway - just because they Are.
It is the power of forgiveness.
We can feel it when we look deeply into the eyes of another, when our own ego-identity gets completely dissolved, and all that remains is the vastness of loving what Is.
It exists in our admiration for another being, simply because they are a beautiful creation, without wanting anything back in return.
Love is letting go.
And in letting go, we find true freedom and release.
We are strengthened by trust and hope.
We discover the Source of unlimited expansion and growth.
Love conquers all.
Love never fails.
 | | 2/14/2010 11:01:00 AM |
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Donutszenmom
Super Bowl | The Cop and I are watching the Super Bowl. A commercial about the stages of a man’s life. Amusing. At the end, they announce Dove soap for men.
“Karen!” The Cop bellows, “Have I been using WOMEN’S SOAP?!?!”
 | | 2/7/2010 5:34:39 PM |
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Facing Inward
Lessons From Second Grade | | Tonight The Daughter went out to dinner with a friend which was great... because The Son and I had dinner and he told me this amazing story: He said today he went to math class and when they came into the room, the teacher had marked a few of the tables in the room indicating that these were the tables allocated for the class. The tables were marked with beanie bears. When the group of 6th graders came in, of course, the discussion turned to the beanie babies on the table and why they were there, most likely, for, gasp 6TH GRADERS. The teacher then told them this story: Her group of second graders had come in earlier in the day and needed "something" to do basic matching. She asked the second graders, out of the animals represented by the beanie babies, to each pick two that were the same. Everyone started to make their pick and one of the little girls picked a lion and a duck. All the other children picked zebras and zebras or bears and bears. After their selection, the kids had to say why they picked their pair. During this, the teacher was thinking she needed to work more with the little girl. When she asked the little girl about her match, the girl told her that they were both daddies. A lion and a green headed duck. -Nuff Said... | | 1/27/2010 7:49:02 PM |
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YogaVita
New Digs | I’ve got nursing school on the brain, so I’ve started a little nursing school blog over here. Drop by sometime and say hello.
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Cherry Blossom
update! | ok, so it’s been almost a year since i’ve posted? well, there are some updates. first of all, i’m pregnant! almost 7 months. needless to say, this has changed my practice. a lot. i practiced most of second series until around 5 1/2 months- with modifications, of course. [...] | | 1/15/2010 4:21:31 PM |
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driste
Re Port | Nothing too new to add here… Life is crazy and work is nuts and stress is always present, tying knots in my stomach and shoulders. But it’s all wonderful. Yoga practice? I took some deep breaths in the car yesterday. That was my yoga practice.
I had this moment on January 1st when I said [...] | | 1/14/2010 11:40:08 AM |
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Yogi One Can I Be
2009 – the Year in Poses | I overstated the badness of 2009 yesterday. After all it was replete with opportunities for spiritual progress (or I’ve been reading too much Eckhart Tolle). As far as my physical practice is concerned, it was a year of extremes. I practiced 217 times last year. I know this because I have a log (more on [...] | | 1/12/2010 4:08:00 PM |
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Still The Turning
Happy 2010! | | After a long vacation (1.5 weeks!), I am back at work at lab, back in the studio for both practice and teaching, and back at the computer to blog. I can't believe how fast it went, it seems like maybe it was a dream that I snapped awake from so quickly that it doesn't seem real, like it is fading in the distance. Ok, enough romanticizing about the holidays...
Monday was my first day back at both jobs. Finally had students in my Monday night class, after changing it to Hatha Level 1, from Ashtanga-Vinyasa Fusion. Monday nights at 7:30 pm is a little late I guess to market a hot, sweaty, full-o-cardio, kind of practice. Although I think the real kicker was that a very established teacher was doing a dynamic flow in the class before mine, and there had never been a class after. So we move on to Hatha 1 for now, which was really fun to teach.
My practice has felt like a calico cat lately, with patchwork contributions from everywhere. FitTV, Anusara, Ashtanga, Sivananda, Iyengar, etc. It has been really fun just finding my way. However, I do crave structure and progress, and answering to a regular teacher has always forced me to stick with it. Which is why I fell in love with Ashtanga in the first place. I've heard people say that if you are a Pitta, Type A personality, that you will naturally align with Ashtanga, but what you really need is a practice to balance out the Pitta, like a restorative type. I can't tell if me being ok with being away from a daily mysore, or even led, ashtanga practice is a function of me seeking what I am needing, or if it is a function of my personality changing. And I'm falling into a style of practice that matches my constitution, rather than complementing it... | | 1/6/2010 11:42:00 AM |
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On The Ashtanga Path
New Year | I wish you all a happy and healthy new year!
Though I haven't written any blog entries since I don't know when, I still very much enjoy reading your blogs and it often gives me a huge inspiration regarding my practice or life or ... thankyou all for this!
I'm not going to make any assumptions about my further blogging activities since it is obviously a fact that I'm not a great writer but let's see.
In any case I'm still on the Ashtanga path, trying to hold up a six-day-practice-week, which often fails, but sometimes not. Perhaps the first practice of the new year will happen now. | | 1/1/2010 2:43:00 AM |
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The Downward Facing Blog
Is this legal according to yoga? Using NLP for freedom | |
For years I went about paying homage to imaginary yoga critics and ‘authorities’ in my head, which extended from how I should think, act, eat, and even dress. I’ll admit that part of the impetus came from a belief I had to conform to a certain presentation, toe the line of the dogma and “look” [...]
| | 12/20/2009 6:38:37 PM |
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Lymphoma Journey
Good blood test results, but no sleep! | I went to have my monthly IV-IG infusion yesterday. The nurses always do blood tests before they start, and I was pretty pleased to see that my WCC and neutrofils had come back into the normal range! They'd been down for the past couple of months ...
WCC - 4.4 (normal range 4.0 - 11.0)
Neutrophils - 2.6 (2.0 - 8.0)
Platelets - 123 (150 - 450)
Platelets are still down but they may well always be down! In fact, looking at the previous post they were exactly the same then (July)!!
I'm seeing Dr B again next month before the December infusion. He's ordered up some extra blood tests that I'll get done before I go and see him. Hopefully all will be well! :)
However, I should note that it's actually 4.00am right now! I am not sure that I have slept at all - if I did it was only for 15 minutes here and there! I'm feeling OK at the moment but I don't expect I will by the end of the work day ... sigh! I'm wondering if this is because of one of the drugs they give me prior to the infusion, to stop reactions. Some 'cortico steroid'? Does that sound right? Who knows ... ! Anyway, I think I'm going to refuse to have this drug again next time. I really don't like tossing and turning all night! I'll see what the doctor says at least!
A couple of days ago it was the Melbourne Cup - the (horse) 'race that stops the nation'! It's one of those things like the Grand National in England. Everyone at work has Melbourne Cup lunches, wears silly hats and gets big TVs in to watch the race at work! And then there are the sweeps. You know - you put in $1, $2, $5 (whatever the amount for that sweep) and you are randomly assigned a horse. Well, one of the young IT Helpdesk guys was persuaded to set 2-3 of these these up for our department, despite protestations that he didn't know how to. So he spent I would estimate at least a day setting up these complex Excel spreadsheets that would randomly assign a horse to a person. And then we discovered after the race that he hadn't realised that he had to 'fill' each sweep! And there was at least one sweep where the winning horse hadn't been assigned to anyone!
I don't think he's ever going to live this down! I told the nurses and they all fell about laughing! At least he's ensured he won't be roped in to do this again next year!! | | 11/4/2009 11:12:00 AM |
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99 To 1
Jobboom Index | | Québec 45,9 %
Employment situation
Unfavorable
This from jobboom in my inbox just this morning...
| | 11/2/2009 6:55:39 AM |
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Malaysian In Mysore
Until My Next Trip | | So long until my next Mysore trip. Saving this blog for my future Mysore trips. I have started another blog - Crazy Cacat in the City. Feel free to drop in. It is not a yoga blog - just anything that comes into my scattered mind. But it will contain updates/progress in my yoga journey. Happy practicing, everyone! | | 10/23/2009 8:58:00 PM |
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Of Yoga And Hummus
I can't beleive we have to do this | I am sorry more people didn't fell it was their obligation and not just 'right' to make it to this March, especially people who live in places they could have made a one day trip for low or no cost.
Younger generations tend to forget the fight older generations fought for us, so we can read an openly gay blog for example. Even worst, we who live in big cities, forget about our gay brothers and sisters in smaller towns, the teenagers, the other minorities, that still suffer from discrimination and bashing. Not to mention our community in places like Iran where being gay is simply dangerous.
The day of course was glorious, the weather was amazing and there were tons of people from all over the country marching pass the White-House and up to Capital Hill. The first speakers were young activities, ages 18-22 and they were the best speakers of the rally, they made all of us emotional and motivated.
But the simple fact is that this is a sad story, the fact that we have to act and protest to get a right that is naturally ours is just wrong. There were tones of really good signs I saw, but I think this one really drives the point home.
Photo by Marc Leonard for LOGO | | 10/12/2009 11:49:00 AM |
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Between Ease And Effort
Wow..I'm posting here...haha | Wow its been a long time since I last posted. And its been a while since a serious practice...BUT...
I did practice a little the past few weeks. About a quarter of what I used to do..but still..its something.
So lets see..my weight is fortunately back to pretty much normal;) YAY!
My practice however, is really way way off..but can be expected after months of layoff! Apparently I can still get my legs behind my head quite well..endurance is shot to pieces, can still jump through, can't jump back. Hamstrings very tight, but I guess nothing that can't be fixed with a few more practices. My backbends..now thats a completely different story, my psoas are unbelievably tight..which is something new to me, since backbending and front body openness has always been my forte..but thats taken a whole dimension backwards from not doing much yoga for months. Quads are super tight..can't really relate what I've done to get that...can't be the swimming I've been doing lately..?
Anyway..since I'm kinda back here..I'll update on my clawback journey into Ashtanga after the long layoff..it will be interesting to see how it will be this time around..;) | | 9/14/2009 8:34:00 AM |
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LI Ashtangini
Trick Knees and Primary with Guruji | On the iPod this morning during the drive to work: N.E.R.D. – Lapdance If you’ve never heard the song, it’s nothing special. However, I have this hilarious Boston video set to the song that cracks me up. I’ll see if I can find it and post it later, I’m on the huzband’s computer right now.
Yesterday [...] | | 8/21/2009 5:17:32 PM |
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Visions of Cody
How I Spent My Summer Vacation | Well, it sure has been a crazy summer!
As you may have noticed, there’s been a dearth of new postings at Visions of Cody for the last few months. And I think that it’s safe to say that the time for this particular blog has passed.
But I didn’t want to go out on a sour note. That last post was a little too much of a downer for my tastes.
Thank you all for your readership and friendship over these last 4 years. I had a tremendous amount of fun being a part of your virtual lives. I enjoyed every aspect of the community – the sharing, the jokes and even the blog wars.
I started this blog as an adjunct to my yoga practice and it was a great tool for learning about yoga. But it evolved into something much more. Being a part of the online yoga community made turning on the computer each and every morning much more fun. Meeting some of you in person was even better.
One of the many definitions of yoga is “union” and as I said in my last post, I was having trouble comfortably maintaining an anonymous online identity. As a result, the time came for me to stop writing as 'Cody' and to start writing as myself.
I guess, in a weird way, I did find yoga as a result of this blog. I found a way to accept the disparate parts of my personality - the good and the bad - and embrace them as a whole.
I also found my voice as a writer through this blog. While I always wrote, mostly for work, I never put as much effort into personal writing as I should have. Re-reading the awful early entries of this blog shows me how much my writing has grown over the years. It probably would never have happened without you or this blog.
I’m still writing my silly little essays about humor and rock music, so if you’d like you keep reading you can subscribe to my blog here, visit it here or become Twitter friends. I must forewarn you, however, that I’m not writing about yoga anymore.
Probably because I haven’t practiced any yoga this summer.
I’m not sure why. I guess after 5 years of obsession I needed a break. I’ve been spending my time bike riding along the beach and going to the gym, but mostly just being fat and lazy. The good news is that I’m kind of feeling the pull to get back into the groove once school starts in September.
I don’t think I’ll be going to classes anymore or adhering to any particular style or approach. Being a full-on yoga junkie is too expensive and too time-consuming for me these days. But who knows what’ll happen in the future.
I wish you all the very best in your lives and in your practice. I hope that you, like me, find whatever it is that you’re looking for.
Thank you and goodnight.
### | | 8/21/2009 5:04:16 PM |
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Colorado Ashtanga
Annie Pace Workshop in Denver | Ashtanga Yoga Denver Presents
a Weekend Workshop with
Annie Pace
Experience Ashtanga Yoga in the tradition of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois taught with integrity, devotion and clarity by one of the most qualified teachers and advanced practitioners in the world. Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your practice and your understanding of Ashtanga Yoga. Beginners are most welcome.
September [...] | | 7/15/2009 2:13:52 PM |
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Mysore Musings
Guruji | I'm living in a tiny New York apartment in true bohemian style with books and pictures from floor to ceiling and an occasional nic-nack nestled here and there. Over time it becomes part of the landscape and I stop noticing all the little bits that make up the whole. But yesterday as I was leaving the house, I paused for a moment and stared at a picture of Guruji. It was like opening my eyes under water, watching the bubbles go up and a pebble slowly float down. Time kind of stopped and it was me and this image and just thinking about this monumental person.
And then this morning, we've all heard: Guruji has passed away. I'm not sure what there is to say except that this practice has changed my life. I am who I am because of the teachings of this amazing person. The short moments I was lucky enough to spend with him were beautiful and full of joy. Thank you, Guruji. | | 5/18/2009 8:36:00 AM |
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Gaia
| | It's so interesting how life just continuously becomes more and more challenging.. Or shall I say more and more challenges are put in front of us as life goes on.. Lately, I've been going through a ton of stress, and subsequent stress symptoms. As I am going through this process, I keep thinking about the fact that difficult things are always going to pass in front of me. I am challenged by responding to them in a calm and even matter, so I go into stress mode... I'm working on it and I'd have to say it's a lot better than it used to be. I've had times in my life where I couldn't handle the situation at all and have been in the emergency room with such intense stomach pains, I thought I was going to die...
Today is one of those super stressful days for me two months of high stress is coming to fruition.. The event I have been totally stressing over is here and I really want it over with and I want you all to wish me luck... Sometimes it really sucks to be an adult.
I finally feel like I can breath and see the light and that is good. I've scheduled acupuncture for tomorrow morning and am going to start preparing for my 3 week journey to the Middle East, I leave on Sunday!!! | | 5/5/2009 8:21:56 AM |
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Yoga Gumbo
Taking a Break | I think it’s time for me to admit that I can’t keep all the balls in the air. I just have too much going on these days with work and family commitments and can’t keep up with writing here. So I’m going to take a break and regroup. I will keep reading blogs; many [...] | | 3/12/2009 2:55:22 PM |
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8 Days A Week
Running and Yoga |  A while ago, I posted about how yoga practitioners often avoid running for fear that it'll kill all the progress they make in elongating their muscles.
When I took up Ashtanga yoga a few years back , I did my daily 2 hour practice and nothing else except some walking and swimming. Yet, in spite of the vigorous nature of Ashtanga, I had trouble losing weight. As well, I seemed to make only minimal progress in the postures.
Now, I realize that yoga isn't about postures only, but I still did wish to refine my practice. It just wasn't happening. While other students were putting their legs behind their head, I couldn't even get my butt off the ground in Upward Bow Pose, literally.
Well, now after running again, and losing some weight, I can actually lift up into Urdhva Dhanurasana, as the picture can attest. Now, I admit that this is a horrible representation of Urdhva Dhanurasana. My alignment is out of whack with my feet turned outward, and my arms are far, faaar from straight. Yet, I have terribly tight shoulders, always have, and probably my upper body isn't very strong right now.
Anyhow, I have a tendency to question, to question everything, including this unwritten rule about not letting running ruin your yoga practice. I imagine that yogis so advanced in their Ashtanga practice, they get so much cardiovascular benefit in their daily yoga, and it is enough. And, many yogis love nothing other, and that's cool too. But, for someone who loves running, it seems clear to me now that it doesn't intrude on yoga.
In spite of having a fairly sporadic yoga practice these days, with my running I'm finding that my body is overall more limber. In addition to Urdhva Dhanurasana, there are a number of other postures that I had great difficulty with before, but can start to do now. So, we'll see where this all takes me. | | 3/9/2009 10:09:00 AM |
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A2Ashtangi
Dinner Dialogue | Principessa: "I got a 32 out of 32 on my history test."
Dad: "That's great"
(Dad gives girl a high five)
The Boy: "Did I tell you what I got on my math test?"
Dad: "No, what?"
The Boy: "53 out of 50."
Dad; "Good thing it didn't cover addition."
(scene fades out with The Wife's chuckles in the background) | | 3/2/2009 6:05:00 PM |
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Rew's Blog
trapeze! | Hi everyone,
I will be performing in Ruby Streak Trapeze Studio's Springtime Showcase at The Bushwick Starr Theater (directions here) ** February 7, 2009 ** Showtimes: 7pm, 9pm ** Tickets available at the door for just $15. Please come and share this special night with me! A work-in-progress video of my piece is below:
| | 1/24/2009 2:29:00 PM |
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Ashtanga Student
Joy | "At the beginning joy is just a feeling that our own situation is workable. We stop looking for a more suitable place to be. We've discovered that the continual search for something better does not work out. This doesn't mean that there are suddenly flowers growing where before there were only rocks. It means we have confidence that something will grow here."
- Pema Chodron
I read this the other day and it really spoke to me. The past few months have been really hard - trying to "see" myself as a full time single father, what that means, what the future holds, etc. There has been an awful lot of mental thrashing going on as a result - thinking that moving would be a good idea, maybe trying to find a different job, on and on, but the truth is, none of those things would "make" me happy.
It's important right now to practice acceptance of how things are this day, this moment. Not acceptance in a passive, go-ahead-and-kick-my-ass-I-won't-complain way, but acceptance in the sense of honestly viewing the situation without judgment or remorse.
Sometimes staying with the pain is the best way to heal it. | | 1/20/2009 7:03:00 AM |
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Julie's Lotus Garden
It’s been a very long time! | I’m tired and going to bed soon, but I thought I should drop a line to say that I’m alive and well. Things have picked up since my last post… I should write about it later!
But for now, I’ll just post a few pictures of Baby A., who’s growing more and more beautifully each day.
[...] | | 12/17/2008 7:34:46 PM |
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The Big Squish
Wandering around in a fog | After consulting with the physician and nurses, the family decided to discontinue meds and mechanical life support of Dad. He wasn't making any improvement since being admitted, and as time passed, his chances of getting better were diminishing. My main concern was that he be in as little pain as possible and that we should not prolong his suffering needlessly. We all took our turns to say our goodbyes. I was feeling so many different emotions, but mostly, I was numb with shock.
Sometime before 4:30 pm, the nurses started "the process" of giving him morphine and taking him off the IVs and ventilator. His heart continued beating faintly and irregularly for about an hour, then his breathing completely stopped.
I think he was ready to go. His friends noticed that he was a little down during the last couple of weeks. His angiogram did not have great news and it was clear that he needed to have bypass surgery. He was likely thinking about how much he could tolerate the surgery itself and whether he was going to be really out of the danger zone afterwards. Little things he said lately made me think that he was preparing us for what might happen.
It's been good for the family to distract ourselves from the grief and focus the arrangements for the funeral service. I'm going to say a few things and get some help from a friend to work up a segment in formal Chinese (similar to what I did for my mom two and a half years ago).
It's going to be challenging to summarize this remarkable man's life. He was a hardworking entrepreneur who lived and pursued his dreams with intensity. | | 10/31/2008 12:00:00 PM |
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Yoga Mama
Trip update | So things are going great. We have been so busy it seems that we leave the house early in the morning and get back in the later afternoon and we are all exhausted. I have walked more here than I have at any time in my life – and that is saying a lot since [...] | | 10/24/2008 7:18:32 PM |
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but I was alive
Of various and sundry things | I feel like it’s time to dust off the cobwebs over here and get back to it. As for exactly what “it” is, I’m not entirely sure. There have been a lot of changes, but not so much a lot of yoga.
Let’s see, well, what used to be the hypothetical house is now a real [...] | | 8/20/2008 1:19:11 PM |
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Yoga Spell
I am the Sun |
You are The Sun
Happiness, Content, Joy.
The meanings for the Sun are fairly simple and consistent.
Young, healthy, new, fresh. The brain is working, things that were muddled come clear, everything falls into place, and everything seems to go your way.
The Sun is ruled by the Sun, of course. This is the light that comes after the [...] | | 8/11/2008 3:53:10 PM |
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The Elephant's Belly
Slipping | Sliding. Greasing the rails for purpose. For rescue. Rescue back the the things I love. Rescue back the best parts of what and who I am. Rescue the sinking dream. Without pushing, without laboring, without forcing it. Without pain. Slowly, slowly, slowly go. Slowly yet back the narrowest toll. Slowly now and slowly again. Slowly [...] | | 7/10/2008 10:27:52 PM |
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De Di In Diem
Mother Pain & God Trust | | Today is a day for dealing with family stuff (mentally, I mean). I went to my homeopath* and somehow ended up on the topic of my mom. So much pain there.
Over the past couple of years, I had come to the conclusion that endlessly analyzing my family situation and all the problems it brought, and [...] | | 6/10/2008 4:35:14 PM |
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Ashtangis Cook
The oddly delicious zucchini crumble | | It isn't that I don't like zucchini, it is just that I find them uninspiring. They are okay to look at, I don't mind eating them, but thought of cooking them is not thrilling. This was until I found a strangely appealing "'zapple' crisp" recipe in the Jan/Feb 2006 issue of Yoga Journal. I love apples. I love apple crumble. Maybe I can trick myself into loving zucchini? And with that, I was off to the market for some zucc.
6 cups zucchini, quartered lengthwise and sliced 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about three lemons) 3/4 dry sweetener 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cup rolled oats 1/2 cup butter (I used olive oil, but the top will be crumblier with butter)
Preheat oven 375 F. Simmer zucchini in the lemon juice for 15 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of the sweetener, cinnamon, and ginger. Cook for 5 minutes. Add cornstarch and stir. Pour zucc mixture into pie pan. Mix oats with remaining sugar, salt, and butter until crumbly. Spread oat mix over zucc. Bake for 20 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream.
I'm sold. | | 6/5/2008 10:28:00 AM |
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Ashtanga Santa Barbara
Yogamind | | Take your non-dominant hand and try to press the index finger and middle finger together and separate them from the ring finger and pinky which are pressed together, a V shape with two fingers on each line of the V. Spock used to do this. Make it flat. Not too hard? Now press the ring finger and middle [...] | | 5/20/2008 2:53:54 PM |
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Same Same Only Different
Peter Sanson workshops rule! | | Peter Sanson was here for 4 days, doing a workshop. I had heard great things about him, and was interested to see what he was like. Well for once, everyone is right. He's wonderful. If you ever get a chance, go study with him. His Mysore classes were good, great adjustments, not too strong, just insightful. He would not let anyone away with sloppiness in practice, so would berate you in good humour. But it was the talk that he gave yesterday that really blew me away. I'll try and remember the gist of what he said, but this is just my recollection, so don't take it as gospel. He started off by telling us how he first experienced ashtanga in Mysore. Guruji took a look at him and told him that he would teach him privately, upsatirs above the old shala. There was just Peter and one other Indian woman. Guruji taught him very slowly. First week was surya a. second week, surya b. Then slowly the standing postures. Only when Guruji thought that Peter could get a good grasp on a posture was he moved on to the next posture. And that is how he learnt the forst 4 series. Slowly, one posture at a time, from Guruji. Amazing. Peter was saying he now believes that it was a blessing to have learnt ashtanga this way, as it is a safe way for the body to open up. He believes that people are now racing through the series, grasping at postures. That is why so many people are injured, or exhausted. This is what really connected with me. He described the practice as a prana building exercise. The whole time during your practice, you need to be aware of your prana/energy levels. As soon as you feel your prana dipping, you need to stop. Otherwise you won't be able to sustain this practice for life, you'll have to stop, as you can't do the rest of your life and an exhausting practice. If you feel your prana building, than you know that you're on the right track. He believes that 7 years per series is a good average. Feel steady and at ease in each posture before moving to the next. It really struck a cord with me. So today in practice, I made that my focus. Steady, deep breath. Staying connected to my energy. And you know, it worked. Usually by the time that I get to bakasana b I'm ready to collapse in a heap, find it hard to breathe. Not today. Sure kapotasana could hardly be described as peaceful, but overall my energy was great. It felt like a very different practice. I felt fantastic after. Sometimes after doing practice, particularly once I started 2nd, I can feel almost jittery high. All that nerve cleansing I guess. But today was just prana flowing through. Clear nadis. Fantastic. Another point he made was that every day he's excited to start his practice. Excited to see how his first sun salute will be. And that is how to approach your practice. Don't be mentally racing ahead, thinking of what's coming. Start at the beginning. Stay in the present, with the breath. And also he reminded us that the sun salutes are about paying repect, a humbling practice. So thank you Peter. You've given me back the beauty of my practice | | 5/5/2008 9:51:00 AM |
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Ashtanga Diaries
Widening horizons or selling out? | 
Its pretty well known that Sri Krisna Pattabhi Jois, the guruji of ashtanga yoga believes that asana practice is fundamental to the 'higher' practices of yoga - pranayama, pratyahara etc and that as a result of that he doesn't teach his students anything beyond asana until they have achieved proficiency in yoga chikitsa (the primary series) , nadi shodana (the intermediate series) and some of sthira bhaga (the four advanced series). He believes that the asana practice is necessary for the body to withstand the influx of prana that comes with pranayama.
Most authorities on yoga agree that asana is a precursor to pranayama and that it is the foundation of preparing the body for 'real' yoga, however they don't tend to be as dogmatic as Guruji. In most forms of hatha yoga, for instance, pranayama and meditation are taught alongside asana. In India, the majority of yoga practitioners don't do asana at all after they reach adulthood. Their yoga practice is pranayama, karma yoga, bhakti and so on....
OK.
Enough rambling.... time to get to the point.
By sticking to ashtanga and the precept of "practice, practice and all is coming", am I missing out on some of the other stuff that's so integral to yoga?
If, for example, I were to take a jivamukti class alongside my ashtanga practice would I be selling out? I'd get to study yoga philosophy, do kirtan and other forms of bhakti, pranayama, meditation, go to satsang.....
Tempting isn't it.... | | 4/15/2008 1:33:00 PM |
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Ashtanga Yoga In My Days
Oh, February is gone | I must have had an overdose of blogging in January. Luckily not of yoga...!
I have more or less managed to keep up my minimum daily practice of at least sun salutations. If I am right, I have counted 4 or 5 missed days: busy Saturdays, one funeral, one sick leave.
There was almost a two-week break from the full practice due to influenza, but I did one Bodyflow class and praticed a little at home almost every day (see above). That seems to be sufficient to keep up the flexibility and the physical condition. Now I feel ok with the practice: almost zen, learning little by little NOT to have bad conscience of not practicing when tired/overloaded, and on the other hand, NOT to exhaust myself either.
I wonder if I am overdoing it the other way, me and my lazy ass... | | 3/4/2008 7:19:00 AM |
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Hanuman Tat Sat
The dust of my Satguru's lotus feet | 
Valentine's day arose with a half-moon in the eastern sky. An auspicious beginning to the day. Pranayam lite at the shala and then very loving singing to Hanuman. The darshan talk before practice was about love and manifesting it. The Improv practice with the satguru was full of love. One of the sweetest loving practices I have ever had at the shala. And at the end we sang again - Jaaya seeya Ramaa. I knew it was a day of destiny for me.
I had been thinking that I would touch the Satguru's feet soon. Perhaps next week near his birthday and the full moon eclipse, but Valentine's day practice was so sweet and so loving that how could it be any other time to do it? So I told him I was ready to do it and he said go ahead.
In the center of the shala, in front of anyone who noticed, I bowed down, I touched the dust of my Satguru's lotus feet, and then I rubbed the dust on my eyes and ears. He put his hand on my back and the shakti pat was complete.
I found my way over to my spot near Hanuman to chant the Aditya Hrdayam. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. Tears of love for the moment. The moment that many have described to me. It is as told a humbling moment. A moment in time where time stands still and God's love is so overpowering that only tears can express the meaning. It is as if Surya is alive in your heart and your heart is Surya.
I bow down to my teacher and his teachers before him in the tradition of Ashtanga yoga. I am privileged to live a life such as this. Privileged to wake up every morning and do pranayam, yoga, and bodywork. I am humbled before God and in God. Tears fall now and fall short of being able to express the feeling of love.
Hari Om, tat sat.
Namaste, love, light, and shanti. | | 2/16/2008 3:09:00 PM |
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A Tamago Gohan Lover
WoYoPracMo Day 8:I have a prize! I have a prize! | 
-Mont Blanc
This is NOT macrobiotics. It contain a lot of suger and cream, but simply the taste is great. I have been taking a sweet class at a cooking school. This is my recent work. Baking cakes is my favorite thing to do beside doing yoga. I am obviously addicted sweets. As I am getting interested in macrobiotics, I decide to take a macrobiotics sweet class at the academy from April.
I had a good practice this morning I had had a terrible low back pain two days ago. Today, it was much better, I was able to do all primary series. It was a joy! I also did backbends. I normally do backbends 6 times but today I did 8 times. When I finished 6, Matt asked me to do 2 more. Oh, no... I did somehow. As a result, my legs were shaking. Apparently, I need more strength of my lower body. After that, I did dropbacks with Matt. I hardly stood by myself, so Matt had all my weight. I felt sorry for him.
I have been trying to walk my hands or legs in backbends. But I am worndering if I should walk in legs or hands or both? And my prior goal for backbends is standing up without any support. To do that, how should I practice? But for now, I need to straighten my arms more and more. There are tons of questions.
I thought it would be rash to say focsing on backbeds since I am a "low table" backbender. But now I realize it's really good. I found some struggled backbenders. I am not the only one person who is suffering from backbends! I was encouraged during the practice.
I have just checked the forum. I got a prize! Yay!
| | 2/8/2008 8:41:00 AM |
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Road To Mysore
LA Bound | | I'm currently at the Bangkok Airport waiting to board my plane back to LA. I can't believe this is the end of another amazing chapter of my journey. I'm not ready for it to end. My life in LA is boring compared to my life in India/Thailand...Thailand have become my second favorite city and will be flying through Bangkok whenever I head to Mysore.
I left Mysore last Sunday. I hate leaving Mysore. I was having such a blast. I was suppose to leave last Thursday but begged my travel agent to book me in for Sunday instead. I was waited until Thursday morning which meant I still had to pack as if I was leaving on Thursday. I didn't know until 11AM that I was confirmed for Sunday. The extra 3 days helped me calm down a bit and got me ready to leave.
This trip started slow and a bit boring but in the middle, it picked up some steam and in the last 4 weeks went 150 mph. It was crazy busy in a very good way. I really loved Narasima's meditation class and philosophy class. It put a lot of things in perspective. I appreciate more what I'm going through. It gave me the courage to tell my boss in my own words, "to fuck off". Which means I'm currently unemployed. I was a little worried about that in the beginning but I know that life has it's way of working things out by itself. I love Narasima's explanation of "detachment". i wish I wrote it down. i can't explain it but i understand the essence of it. It help me decide to make changes with my life. I wasn't planning on changing jobs this year but I knew that it would have to happen sooner or later. I guess it happened much sooner than I expected.
The next few days is going to be spent getting my LA life back together...finding an apartment, going on interviews, pulling stuff out of storage, renewing my license...and shit, I'm short 2 or 3 hours of CPE and getting ready mentally and physically for work...that's assuming I'll find something. In other words...life is good...it's going to be fun.
I said goodbye to Luke today. I told him I would see him in October, maybe even earlier. I haven't left Bangkok and I've decided to return already. | | 1/25/2008 3:30:55 AM |
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The Looking Bird
Mysore | | It's been almost a year since I last blogged. I can't believe it but I leave for Mysore in 3 days. So, at the urging of those in my life who are worried about me traveling so far, those in my family that are scared I'm joining a cult and never coming back, and the ashtangis I practice with daily who can't make the trek yet themselves, I've decided to resurrect my blog and share my experiences. I don't know what to expect but I am thrilled to be making this journey. Of course none of this would be possible without the support of my husband and 3 children who have given me the gift of allowing me to step away from my life and responsibilities and travel to India to follow my passion. I am a lucky lady! It should be an interesting ride. Stay tuned . . . | | 1/14/2008 1:53:00 PM |
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Coming Home
Back to the mat | Most of the time between Thanksgiving and the holidays was deliberate rest period for me. My knee had become painful again and I thought rest would be a good experience, though I did breakdown and practice a few times during that period. I am now practicing sporadically again and have practiced 3 days in [...] | | 12/30/2007 9:49:22 AM |
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Indian In America
Am I a star now ? | I'm thrilled that people read my blog and even posted comments. Its fun to interact with people this way. In the blog world , the blogger is like a celebrity, a star :).
Anyways life is very busy now. Boss thinks I need to do more and more to have a strong footing in the company. I kind of agree with him. In this IT industry or perhaps even in other industries in America the corporate philosophy in broad terms is "Perform or perish". Nobody is spared. It does not matter how many years experience you have or how much good work you did in the past. Its always the "NOW" factor. No living in past glory ..Sorry.
I havent been able to practice Yoga for the past couple of days.Lethargy for sure.
Okay folks , keep the comments coming.I really enjoy them. | | 12/2/2007 5:58:00 PM |
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Mind Tides
over the edge | I was on the mat but feeling a bit like a bird with a broken wing this morning. No flying for this bird today… Just slow and steady and very very gentle… soft. Pain in a few moments, and an immediate backing off – was nervous of going too far too soon and living to regret [...] | | 11/21/2007 11:22:37 PM |
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Liz In Question
Feel like writing | 
Hi, I feel like I should introduce myself. Hi, I'm Liz. It has been a very long while since I've written. Sorry blogosphere- life just got hectic and crazy.
Brief update, got married to my wonderful Husband(turned out perfect- so much fun), went to Bali (good and bad times both), hurt my knee practicing yoga in bali and still can't do lotus, got back in August, found out I was preggers, got a job... now getting big (already at 27 weeks), and so stoked to have our kid. She is a busy little girl, she has been kicking non stop since yesterday morning and kept me up all night. I guess this is good practice for the upcoming sleepless nights.
I am having an easy pregnancy. I am so lucky. Due date is Feb. 4. Crazy lucky to be having a baby, I have so many friends struggling to get pregnant. Not at all pleasant for them.
My ribs are being pushed out by this little spud, it hurts!
Here's some honeymoon photos for your viewing pleasure | | 11/8/2007 3:30:00 PM |
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Vegan Ashtangi
My first yoga class | I taught my first yoga class ever last Saturday morning. I wasn’t sure if it was right for me to do it and was quite nervous before starting. I felt a great sense of responsibility for being the person who’ll provide a bunch of people with their first contact with yoga. Let me say that [...] | | 10/22/2007 2:40:46 AM |
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Ashtanga Traveler
The week before... | | ... the workshop weekend is all coming together.... Peter Sanson is coming across to my little island to give a 4 day Mysore Style workshop.... I am just so excited. It is spring and I am looking forward to 4 days of class in a row (I have done about 4 classes in the past 6 months so I am ready for my teachcer to be there). But it is a little daunting to have a big list of names in front of me, some I know some who I do not know, people flying in from other parts of NZ to attend..... the island will cater to all I know that...it is a wee paradise.... I just hope I am able to keep on top of the lttle things I need to without stressing too much.... I tend to do that.
I also just got booking for two privates in less than 20 minutes.... what is going on? And they were unrelated as well... so that will be fun. Plus my own yoga for the past 2 days has been well, really great.
It is all just a little bit wierd. Of course if I was to suddenly be able to lift up from karandavasana...well I would pinch myself... not in this life.... well I guess I should not say that....
and I am not drinking coffee... and no headache ... okay it has only been a day but still.
| | 10/8/2007 9:05:58 PM |
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Sounds of Clouds
is that egg on my face? | 
nope, it's just slobber.
she has mastered savasana, and of course down dog (doggie style). her twisting skills are solid. admittedly, it's hard for her to breathe with her mouth closed...
next on the list? learning that it's never a good idea to put chicken bones from the street in your mouth. she quickly learned that licking broken glass never comes to a good end... and that eating bicycle seats (though chewy) and cell phones (though crunchy) and books (though they smell so good) does not lead to a happy mom. so i think she'll catch on quickly. | | 8/29/2007 5:49:00 PM |
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1 Percent Productions
Too experienced? | Ok so I am really pissed off today! Not only did I gain back that 10 pounds I lost on the Master Cleanse (whoever said sperm has no calories was WRONG WRONG WRONG) AND I've been fired from my teaching job! Yes, apparently some old bag complained to managment that I wasn't 'experienced enough' as a teacher for her. She told management she wanted someone with more 'life experience; and possibly kids. Like she would know an experienced yoga teacher if one jumped up and did Kappalabhati breathing all over her! Bitch!
I mean come on! I've been practising yoga for nearly a year now, how much more experience could you want? Some of these other so-called yoga teacher ho's have taken one or two classes, max. So it's a career choice for yummy mummies who haven't got anything better to do? I'm so NOT going to be a yoga teacher... I mean I love getting up there all buff and toned and tanned and telling everyone what to do and shit, but once everyone starts in on the gig. FORGET IT!
Mind you, people do hit on you, men, women, old guys, you name it, they all love a hottie in Prana...
So maybe I won't give up just yet.
My ticket is booked to Mysore. I fly out of here 1st class on 1st May. I didn't write a letter. Fuck that shit. I'm going to walk in there and just say "do you know who I am?"
Kidding. I wrote the letter and am hoping to stay in some dive called The Southern Star. If anyone has stayed there recently, let me know, I'm not going to end up in some godforsaken flea pit in downtown Gokulum... I want hot water, I want fluffy towels, I want vintage Beavis and Butthead on cable...
BL | | 4/23/2007 1:45:00 PM |
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The Body Electric
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle! | | Stoked. The Teach added Kurmasana and Supta Kurm. Been having up and down practices with some hip pain moving around. Got the accupuncture and It seems to be fading away, leading to the rockin practice today. Floating, flowing.
Went to my frind Thomas' class on Sunday with my friend Lady Kat M. It was great to see Thom. We used to study together at the Monkey Shala, and He has been teaching at Yoga Mandala for 3+ years. His class was definately his own. He has been studying Tantra, and definately infused it in the class. He even talked about noticing the subtle energies of the body electric.
Well Class this morn was definately a flow of energy. I didn't actually eat that much yesterday, which really helped this morn. My clasp has come back for Mari D on the right, and the left was a few inches away. The teach added the tortise, and I am no where near. I gotta start using a strap.
Went to Santa Cruz with Lady Cat after practice. Ate some Brazilian Food and laid on the beach for a few hours. It was a beautiful sunny day and a great pleasure to lay around with a beautiful lady, bare feet in the sand.
Taught a private lesson last night in the city. That was a cool experience. Brought me back to the beginners body. Student T was tall, skinny, and very unflexibe. Updog was a challenge. As was the lunge forward to Warrior 1. Long legs made for new geometry challenges. Really Enjoyed it. | | 2/20/2007 12:10:51 PM |
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Saysasana
| Nothing but good news! Seriously, I am so waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Practice has been great. Grabbing heels in kapo, still landing Bakasana B but I'm still a little afraid and dragging my tail bcs of it. My students have been gifting me with kick ass CD's to play in class, Prana yoga pants, electronic japanese buddha thingys... Classes have been big and I have a workshop coming up and I'm going to Shiva Rea on Sat. w/ some of my girls. One of my teachers even added a 9am ashtanga improv on Mondays. I get to sleep in on Mondays! Om namah Shivayah!
Tom and I even had the best "date day" on Sunday. After my classes we ate Vietnamese food, got lit, walked around the Spectrum, got caramel apples, rode the ferris wheel, had a cocktail, watched a dumb movie, and did it. I mean really, isn't that AWESOME???It was so fun.
The rest of my life is rolling along. I mean I still have to get insurance and file for bankruptcy as I will never pay off my past hospital bills. {Grand Total exceeds $100,000} But I look forward to a clean slate, especially since I feel more in sync with my health. The second series and my wierd doctor are really bringing things together on the inside. It's quite amazing.
AND I have TOOL tickets!!!
So, I'm sure a fish will die soon, or I'll get really bad pms, or something to restore the energetic balance in my life. But until then....
rock on lil' pirates! | | 2/12/2007 12:26:00 PM |
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Tartan Yogi
Idling | | I have just received my copy of How to be Free by Tom Hodgkinson, the man who also wrote How to be Idle. The idea being that you can spend your time doing things you actually want to do rather than toiling away at the 9 to 5 of work. Thus forming in my mind a great plan where I only work three days a week and do yoga or assist yoga classes the rest of the time, with time off for the drinking of wine and lying around on the floor.
It is good to have dreams.
As a small start of my plan to be able to afford to work part time I think I am going to get rid of my mobile phone. It will save me £50 a month and won't go off in relaxation noisily when I have fogotten to turn it off (rare, but it has happened on particularly stressful days).
Maybe I am turning into a hippie. I blame my parents.
In other news had a good practice yesterday, although my headstands are still rubbish. Well balancing is OK, but getting up with straight legs is challenging on a wood floor. When I do them at home I am fine so it must be the carpet and mat combo cushioning my head that makes it easier.
I am going to do some more observation next week too, hopefully some more assisting too, we will see how it goes. Am also excited because the centre has just introduced an intro to second series which I am going to at the weekend.
Tonight I shall practice and then fashion myself an idler's corner near the window where I can read. The husband thinks I have gone mad as I have decided I want to get rid of the TV. He doesn't agree so it will stay. But once I have my idlers corner all will be well as it will be TV free.
There is a temp sitting across from me at work today. She has spent all day practically pummelling her keyboard, hitting her desk and talking to herself. This was after announcing to the whole room that she had just landed a plum job with her own office (insinuating obviously that really all this temping malarkey was way beneath her and that we are all plebs). If I ever temp anywhere I will remember her performance and try to be a bit less mad. Maybe temping drives you insane?
On the up-side I bought a bag of dried cranberries at lunchtime, mmmmm cranberries. | | 2/8/2007 9:57:41 AM |
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Crash Test Ashtangi
The story of a crash test ashtangi | I’m a 28 year old nursing student who has been doing ashtanga periodically since 2003. In between these great periods of doing ashtanga, I’ve also been practicing the fine arts of drinking heaps of red wine and smoking cigarettes. Closing in on the venerable age of thirty, I decided it was time to kick the [...] | | 1/24/2007 1:45:54 PM |
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Mysore Bum
Some advice from the Mysore yogis | 
Today J and I left Mysore for Bangalore. Last night we had a very yummy dosa party at Anu's, her's are the best in town. She made my favorite deserts as well so I was totally spoilt once again! I went to kirtan with a few people to hear Ganesh play tabla one last time and L sing. Then to the Metropole for drinks and chats. We all said goodbye this morning at the coconut stand over chai. I had a few quiet little tears to myself there, it was hard to leave Anu, Ganesh, and my little gang of special people, you know who you are, love you all. We will all see each other again though. I'll see AJ next tuesday for a start.
In Bangalore J and I went for lunch at the palace, and lazed around there chatting about our trip and our favorite Mysore moments. Tomorrow we leave India. As always I expect going back to be more of a culture shock than going, and it's going to be cooooold! I will come back to Mysore I'm quite sure, as you know from my blog I've had a great time there.
For this last post I wanted to put together all of the advice and tips that I gathered from Mysore yogis in the hope that it might help some of you who intend to come here for a while and are new to the experience as I was.
- Don't worry about coming alone, you will make friends easily as long as you are friendly
- The food is very good, you won't go back emaciated, and you are unlikely to get dysentry or something like that as long as you stick to the good eating stops.
- Don't bring loads of stuff, you can find pretty much everything in Mysore.
- Tell someone if you have a problem, Ganesh can take you to a docs or sort out most things for you, and other students usually have a lot of good advice.
- If this is your first time abroad you may well feel a little rattled by the experience at first, it takes a few days sometimes to get over the culture shock. You might feel unsettled for a few days but this is quite normal. It's not a mystical "Mysore thing", it would happen anywhere.
- Don't recreate the busy schedule you left behind at home by filling your days with classes. Leave yourself some time to chill out and do nothing. It's ok to do nothing, you're not at work or having to deal with the responsabilities you have at home.
- There is no such thing as "being ready for Mysore". You go and bring your practice to the shala wherever and however it is whether you have been practising 20 years or 2 weeks. Beginners are warmly welcomed, what a great place to begin.
- Don't even start to think about where you will be stopped or if you will be stopped. You came to learn and they will take care of it, at the end of the day you pay the institute to teach you so you don't need to worry about it, let them do that for you.
- Don't even begin to try to understand why some people get stopped at different places. If you can't bind in Mari D and get stopped there and someone else can't either and can go on...that's just the way it is. They have their reasons.
- You don't need to be able to do everything perfectly.
- Don't come to Mysore as a "Yoga tourist", come with a deep respect of the shala and the teaching which you recieve there.
- It can be hard if you're not used to practising 6 days a week but it gets easier. The early start also becomes a habit, you might even start to enjoy it.
- Ladies cover your shoulders and legs or you'll get some unwanted attention.
- It's good to respect ladies holiday (Guruji advocates it and you're in his shala after all, so even if you don't usually respect it maybe give it a chance). It's also good to miss practice if you are injured or unwell.
- It's ok to stop your practice early if you need to for whatever reason, just let Sharath, Saraswathi ot Guruji know. It's not a crime!
- Take the time to chat to the locals, like your rickshaw driver for example, they are very friendly people. Guru who owns the coconut stand is one of my favorite people for example, and Lokesh my rickshaw man.
- It can be hard but the best thing is to come with no expectations.
- Smile. If you can't laugh at yourself you're taking your practice too seriously. It's meant to enrich your life.
- Don't obsess about the yoga.
There are many more but those are the main ones that were often repeated during my stay.
My personal advice would be to come with a love for the practice and enjoy it. With the right attitude you can have a very good time indeed. So... go and write your letter to Guruji.
The Mysore Anthem has been voted "Respect" by Aretha Franklin, because there's a lot of that in Mysore, and you need a lot of it too (suggested by Rew).
| | 12/2/2006 7:09:00 AM |
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Peacock Feather
Moon Days | What to do on a moon day? Go to the beach of course. I was a bit hesitant to do asana on a moon day, but could not resist. The Fire Island waves were big, choppy and erratic, no doubt due to the high energy. So the question is, should one practice on a moon day or [...] | | 11/10/2006 12:36:47 PM |
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Gypsy Sister
Aloha! | | Greetings from Maui! I have returned to this magical isle where my troubles just seem to melt away! Of course some have been replaced by others but in general I'm relaxing and taking a much needed rest from teaching. I'm practicing with my teacher, and ironically it's not as intense as it is in Taipei. Maybe I'm not working as hard, maybe it just feels easier, I'm not sure but I'm still enjoying myself. The thing about having one of the originals as your teacher you hear a lot of the bull shit that goes on in and around the world of ashtanga. As Guruji ages there is a distinct line being drawn between "new school" and "old school" ashtanga, who's teaching the "correct" method, Guruji vs Sharath. It is very unsettling for, as my friend Stephen calls us "young pups" and very confusing! I'm being taught one thing in Taipei and another thing here. I guess it's down to respecting the teacher in the room and doing what they ask you to do, seeing if it works for you, and then incorporating what does into your personal practice and getting rid of the rest. It amazes me though the ego that gets involved and the things that these senior teachers are saying about eachother.....can you imagine what they would be like if they didn't practice yoga? Or are they still practicing "yoga" or only "asana"? Something to ponder....I'm off to practice.
12:00
Back from practice. It was a good one! Really trying to work moola bandha throughout the whole practice and it's getting easier to do. Still not maintained throughout the whole thing but I am using it more. Got my toes to my head in vrishikasana (which Nancy keeps in intermediate) but I'm still not moving my hands in the jump out of pincha. Mayurasana is a nightmare! But it's slowly, slowly coming. I can bounce both feet off the floor but I can't stay up yet. Nacrasana I can do 5 bounces - gonna try to add one a week to get up to the required 10. Should be interesting. The rest is fine until I get to supta urdhva pada vajrasana where I cannot bind and roll without feeling like I will break my back! One day maybe....Not taking my ankles here yet in kapot or backbends. Hopefully by Wednesday they will feel comfortable enough to take me there. Merritt took me there last week but I'm not allowed to practice with him anymore ( we got into trouble!) so here's hoping the girls will do it! I think I will just tell them to be more forceful with me. Or I'll just relax and enjoy the break from intense practice! But I did work up some heat today which was good, and balance is pincha was good. I gotta get some body work done here on my shoulder and lower back so I'm off to make an appointment. Hope all is well. Until next time...
| | 10/30/2006 3:02:02 PM |
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Self Practice
Vinyasa is so much fun! | | How does Yoga work without vinyasa? Its so much fun anyways, I don't think I could dispense with it. The temp of the room I practiced in this afternoon was 64, but I still worked up a pretty good sweat by navasana. Progressing into handstand with navasana is slow going still, but seems like I am unlocking some secrets. It IS a strength thing, partially, but a lot of it has to do with how you use the breath and pivoting forward, etc.
Well, jumpthroughs are progressing along, too. I have started pausing during some jumpthroughs for fun and to work a little strength. On the jumpbacks, I've started pausing and really extending the exhale once I land the feet, in chataranga. I feel like that really builds good strength and good form, too (it becomes obvious when you hold something that you must have good form).
I have lost sight of mula bandha as hardcore as I had a hold of it a few weeks ago. I don't know why this has left. Perhaps I need to more consciously engage it, although it doesn't really affect my practice as far as I can tell.
I also think its time to start working on dwi pada, but I am pretty comfortable with my practice as it is now. Perhaps thats all the more reason to add on some mayhem. | | 10/20/2006 1:18:51 PM |
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Note To Self
Um Yeah… | Dear Purusha,
I have a bug up my ass and it’s from this comment we got the other day:
“Who told you that “There is only here and now”…
“I am” sense ? The sense of presence ?
It is just sound.. bzzzzzz, nothing else.”
There is no here and there is no now.
There is no prakriti and there is no purusha.
There [...] | | 10/5/2006 8:00:03 AM |
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Ashtanga OZ
Assisted Dropbacks | I was introduced to dropbacks this morning and "Oh my God! How amazing are they!!!!". Up to today I was doing 3 or 4 rounds of 5-8 breaths each of standard Urdhva Dhanurasana. My teacher asked when was I going to try dropbacks, so I said how bout now, so we did. When going back for the first time I got all of these memories from when I was learning backflips at gymnastics when I was younger, it was unreal! I felt like my heart was opening to the universe and all of this loving energy was pulsating through every cell in my body, making me feel so alive and relaxed and uplifted. It makes sense that backbends are so intense because of the spinal cord and nerve roots. I kind of get a similar feeling in the Marichasanas but with back bending I get the extra rush of being inverted too. The thrill of dropping back and coming back up is so addictive. The rest of my practice went well despite struggling to get out of bed and feeling tired when I hit the mat. I've really been struggling to get up in the mornings of late. My energy levels have been lower than normal first thing in the morning. Funny though because I had a lot more energy for practice than I thought. Can't think of what else to write as I'm still riding this euphoric wave of dropback bliss. Happy bending people! | | 6/29/2006 11:17:00 AM |
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Chatvari
DO we ever learn? | |
WASHINGTON - A Republican gubernatorial candidate's call for creation of a forced labor camp for illegal immigrants drew rebukes Friday from two GOP lawmakers, who labeled it a low point in the immigration debate.
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Don Goldwater, nephew of the late Sen. Barry Goldwater, caused an international stir this week when EFE, a national news agency of Spain, quoted him as saying he wanted to hold undocumented immigrants in camps to use them "as labor in the construction of a wall and to clean the areas of the Arizona desert that they're polluting."
The article described Goldwater's plan as a "concentration camp" for migrants.
Goldwater, a candidate for governor in Arizona, said in a statement Friday that his comments were taken out of context. He said he was calling for a work program for convicted nonviolent felons, similar to "tried and tested, effective and accepted practices" used by state and local jails.
But two Republicans, Arizona Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) and Rep. Jim Kolbe (news, bio, voting record), called Goldwater's comments "deeply offensive" and asked state Republicans to reject his candidacy in the Sept. 12 primary.
"That Mr. Goldwater is either unaware of or indifferent to the loaded symbolism, injustice and un-Americanism of his 'plan' to address the many serious issues caused by illegal immigration reveals his flaws as a candidate and a stunning lack of respect for the basic values of a generous and decent society," McCain said in a statement.
Kolbe said that if the comments are true, Goldwater "has demonstrated his complete unworthiness for public office, and I am confident he will be soundly rejected by Republicans from the party of Barry Goldwater, who consistently demonstrated his compassion and respect for all people. This is a sad day in the national debate on immigration policy."
McCain and Kolbe favor a guest-worker program for illegal immigrants.
Goldwater made a similar comment at an April anti-immigration rally.
"Build us that wall — now!" Goldwater said, referring to a proposal to add 700 miles of fences along the U.S.-Mexico border. He promised then that if elected, he would put illegal immigrants in a tent city on the border and use their labor to build the wall.
Barry Goldwater, the former Arizona senator, was the Republican presidential nominee in 1964. | | 6/24/2006 3:28:14 PM |
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