March Workshop - Day three

Straps
After a brief practice to warm up, we played around with straps. People came up with different ways that a strap can be useful and we tried them ourselves. Some of the favorites were to
- put it on like a backpack, supports back, aligns shoulders
- put it around the upper arms to give stability in chaturanga
- put on upper arms for stability in forearm and shoulder stands.

What Would You Teach?
We split into groups to discuss one thing we would teach someone. My group chose
- saying OM out loud
- breathing (practice viloma pranayama)
- learning suryanamaskar

Chanting
We learned and practiced the Maha Gayatri Mantra:
Om Bhuh
Om Bhuvaha
Om Savaha
Om Mahaha
Om Janaha
Om Tapaha
Om Satyam
Om Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi
Dhiyo Yonaha Prachodayat
Om Apajoti
Raso Amritam
Brhama Bhuhr Bhuvaswarom

and Asatoma:

Asatoma sadgamaya
Tamasoma jotirgamaya
Mrytyora amritangamaya

We chanted asatoma as a walking chant in a circle and in a figure-8. We discussed what the walking do for us. Some felt is slowed the chant down, others felt they could focus more on the chant while walking.

Yin Yoga
I spoke to another Kathy about doing gentle yoga since I will be teaching in a few weeks to a Seniors class. She recommended a Web site on Yin Yoga and an article by Sarah Powers on Yoga Journal. Also, she recommended I look into two books, "Yinsights" and "Insight Yoga"