Bra Burning, yogic style. Day 6-9.

Ahhhhh! Freedom! Some thoughts on days 6-9.

I deepened my awareness into the statement “I can’t”. I’ve seen people who can’t backbend do wheel, people who are afraid of handstand go upside down. “I can’t” is an old tape I all to often play in my own private Idaho. I’m pretty sure what happened at 7PM on Monday and Wednesday is ‘teaching yin’. 

Bra burning, yoga style. I finally discarded several pieces of skimpy clothing I used to teach Birkam. And with it, another layer in my ideas about what makes a perfect body. And a perfect pose. And a perfect me.

I’ve missed the women at Prototypes and held one ear towards teaching them. I think some of the partner work and ‘safe touch’ practice would be powerful, for example, and feel after working with them for a year it is time to deepen our work together. I wonder if it is possible to work 1:1 with them, and what that might look like. I emailed the director to meet with her next week to discuss this possibility. If it is meant for this yoga will happen, the doors will open.

I love how Kira seamlessly weaves questions into her teaching. Sometimes it comes right away, and sometimes it is held for another moment. It is a great model for my own life, and I’m growing more comfortable with giving more room as big (and small) questions reveal themselves.

Yoga and yoga, Prana and prana, Meditation and meditation.

Brahmari. Anahata ‘Cave of Bees’. Attention to the honey in your heart. So sweet.

I have become more interested in teaching a more gentle and slower practice because I’m trying to learn how to live it myself. I don’t use drugs or alcohol any longer, but I can work myself into a dither. Step away from the computer, take some deep breaths, and go to bed, for goodness sakes.

How serious am I about learning mindfulness? How much am I committed to learning about yoga? What are the practices that support this learning? One is recording data. Just because I fell off the practice due to said workaholism as mentioned above, doesn’t mean I can’t get back in the saddle and pick it up again today.

Day 9

Discussion about sequencing and ‘what would you like to address’ during remainder of training. I felt open to whatever was offered, but was very pleased to hear more subtle work and philosophy was desired from others in the group. Me too!

Bandha as irrigation lock whose purpose is to untie knots (granthi)

Practice:

Muladara location in baddha konasana at wall

Muladara demo

Uddiyama bandha breathing.

Jalandara bandha

Heart tapping

Shiffman hokey pokey

Estatic shaking

Savasana

Break: fresh carrot, beet, apple, kale juice. Seaweed. Little bit of nuts. Didn’t want to eat to much because we were going into yin practice, but wanted to stay hydrated and nourished. I love sitting in the zen den with everybody and hanging out.

Yin practice focused on the charkas

Upavista konasana or legs up wall

Muladhara

earth

Silent LAM

Sleeping Swan or Eye of Needle at wall

Svadihishthana

water

Silent VAM

Dragon

Manipura

fire

Silent RAM

Saddle or heart opener over bolster

Anahata

Air

Silent YAM

Caterpillar or forward fold

Vishudda

Ether

Silent HAM

Spine twist

Anja

OM

Sit or Savasana

Sahasrara

OM

Dinner at Monte Grappa and bike ride home.