Asanas Saturday session

What a day! I felt so connected in today's workshop than I had a month ago. I feel like I'm a part of this course now; getting to know more people, more confident in asking questions. Today, we covered Asanas in our class for teacher training. Kathy asked us to make several lists.

Ideas for yoga classes

1. Prenatal yoga
2. Family yoga
3. Toddler yoga
4. Preschool yoga
5. Yoga for Allergies/Asthma
6. Adaptive yoga
   
7. Self-empowerment yoga
8. The idea of God and yoga
9. Yoga for workaholics
10. Yoga in retirement

Ideas for our own personal practice

1. Yoga with my sons
2. Yoga on the top of a mountain at sunrise
3. Yoga in a tropical place with a clear, cool steam running by
   
4. Like to try Power Yoga
5. Investigate and and come to a comfortable acceptance of God
6. Meditate

Basic postures for a yoga class

1. Tadasana
2. Forward bend, standing or sitting
3. Upward-facing dog
4. Downward-facing dog
5. Warrior poses
   
6. Side Angle
   
7. Mariachasana
8. Wide-leg pose
9. Backbend
10. Plow
11. Seated Lotus
12. Savasana
    

A basic yoga class would include

1. Chant Om
2. Pranayama practice
3. Surianamaskar A
4. Forward bed
5. Warrior Pose
6. Wide-legged pose
7. Backbend or Bow
8. Savasana
   

Ideas for Meditation

1. Meditate during massage
2. Focus on a candle
3. Focus on a campfire
4. Focus on ocean waves
5. Focus on ripples in a pool of water
   
6. Listen to ocean waves
7. Listen to a waterfall
8. Focus on the sound of a fan
9. Meditate through a headache
10. Meditate through music

I have so many topics to think about in relation to yoga. I have written some down, and will come back to think more about them in my blog.

Tapas

I skipped ahead a bit from the Portion on Contemplation to the Portion on Practice. First sutra in this section talks about the heat created when one practices, called Tapas. Apparently, some misinterpret it to mean discipline through physical pain.

I have started running again with a friend early in the morning. I certainly feel the tapas from this exercise in my quad and hamstrings right now!

Moon phase "mumbo-jumbo"

I posted a few weeks ago about the phases of the moon and the force it imposes on life. I have been noticing these phases, looking up into the sky at night, or during the day sometimes. I think there is some fact to this, but after the last 24 hours, I'm sure my sons are strongly opposed to nature of the moon.

Last night, my oldest woke up at 3AM and did not go back to bed/sleep until close to 5AM. It was a struggle that ended up with threats if he did not allow his parents to sleep. Then he was up pretty much at his regular hour! He's obviously tired, but his energy just won't quit. Now my youngest won't nap. He's been singing and talking to himself for nearly an hour when I know he needs to sleep.

I would have imagined this kind of behavior as we neared the Full Moon, not as we near the New Moon which is only 5 days away.

Light on Yoga (book) / Nauli

I recently borrowed Light on Yoga, the BKS Iyengar book, from my library. Gotta love interlibrary loans! I have this book on my wish list, but I think it might move down in priority a bit. After browsing it, I think it is a great overall resource on yoga and a good addition for any personal library. I would recommend it for anyone who asks me, "if I could learn about yoga from one book, what should I buy?"

I'm going to delve a bit more in depth on many yoga topics. And with the Yoga Sutras book I already have, and the Ashtanga poses workbook, I pretty much cover most of what I need right n0w from Light on Yoga.

I did learn more about the cleansing process of Nauli from this book. It something Kathy recently introduced to me and I had not piped up in class to ask more about it. Reading about Nauli in the book has help shed some "Light".

Even the tiniest?

Everything living has a purpose. This is extolled frequently in yoga teachings. As I change my perception, become more aware of the tiniest living thing (sorry, I'll still wash my hands to kill the little buggers that can make me sick) I realize the effects of my actions on my kids.

My son is fascinated by bugs. We encourage this by providing his ladybugs with a home, water and food. Beetles and moths have moved in and out of this home. (Unfortunately, they go in flying and come out in "body bags"). We even sent away for Painted Lady Butterfly larvae that are currently hanging in their chrysalis' waiting for time to tell them when to emerge. However, today an ant walked by on the sidewalk. My son casually walked over and squashed him. He watches me do this frequently inside the house. I explain to him outside ants are OK. But am I really going to take the time to chase and an OUT of my house? Sorry, not yet.

Taming desire

I still have not reined in my desire for chocolate chips on animal crackers.

I am a yogi

I realized recently that the fact that I have made an effort to practice yoga makes me a yogi.

I had mental impressions of what a yogi was, but I did not try to define it. After reading the Yoga Sutras, I realized that I have been a yogi for a while. But now I am more comfortable to say, "I am a yogi."

I mentioned earlier in my blog that I wanted to teach yoga because I wanted to further my personal practice and knowledge. As I read the Sutras, sometimes I think how can I relate them to life. How could I teach them to people if the topic came up? Would I be able to discuss them with a group? The only way I could do that is to apply the Sutras to things I have done, or things I am going to do. That is why I needed to write down the moment I realized the effect of "inference" earlier this week. This blog helps me remember the Sutras as I write about my experiences with them.

A good example of Inference

I was running late for yoga this evening. Actually, I had not planned to attend at all, until my husband made a surprise early arrival home from work. Can I go to Yoga? were the first wordds out of my mouth. Oops. I hon, good to see you. Can I go to yoga? He smiles and agrees since he'll be running late the rest of the week. Sweet! and off I went.

I have been to Kathy's Wednesday night class. It is held in the big studio upstairs. I attend her class last Friday; again, in the big studio upstairs. As I arrived for this evening's Monday night class (late, I remind you) I go through the doors and hear jovial voices coming from the downstairs studio. "Nah," I think, Kathy MUST be upstairs since the Wed and Fri classes were there. I head up. I put everything away and wait in line to check in. I go to the door and peer through the glass.

That is not Kathy at the head of the room. I turn to the attendance-taker. Kathy is not here tonight? Kathy's class is downstairs. I smile and think...perfect. Tonight's blog topic.

Sutra 7 states the three sources of right knowledge are perception, inference and scriptural testimony. Tonight, while assuming that if the Mon and Wed classes are held upstairs, then the Fri night class must be there, too, was an example of inference.

Friday night "lites"

I finally got to the studio to practice with Kathy tonight. I had been trying all week. It was a much different class than last Wednesday. Fewer people and Kathy seemed less of an "teacher" and more like someone just playing around with the ideas of yoga--more relaxed. She had us try something called nali. I have to look this up and understand what it is because I felt like I was trying to bellydance and have a bowel movement at the same time.

My Secret Defender: Riboflavin

For years I have suffered from migraines. Like clockwork, about 12 hours before the onset of my menses I get a migraine behind one or both of my eyes which spreads all over my head within a few hours if left unchecked. Two instances I have experienced auras and nausea. Since my mother had a stroke a couple years ago, this new family history coupled with my regular migraines put me in a high risk category for stroke. Good news is I keep active, exercise regularly and do not smoke. Bad news is sometimes even a healthy lifestyle can't stop genetic programming. I feel like I'm a time bomb set to go off without warning. With two young children, I want to do everything I can to reduce the likelihood of my suffering a stroke.

I am informed. I have read about strokes on the internet. I communicate with my GYN and my family practitioner regularly. Both have recommended increased calcium (good thing I love my milk!), a low dose aspirin...and a supplement of riboflavin. I looked it up and studies suggest that this common B Vit enhances mitochondrial energy production in the body's cells--specifically cerebral blood vessel cells. It turns out that scientists have discovered that dysfunctional mitochodia have a proven role in the onset of migraines. It was worth a shot. But finding a B2 supplement/Riboflavin proved difficult and not common. I have added a B-complex supplement since April.

I have noticed results. My cycle in April came and the headache was delayed and not as severe. In May, I had a slight headache--as though, I thought, that I was not getting enough sleep. It was not the classic migraine I feel before menses. And now I actually have to keep track on a calendar again rather than wait for the migraine to tell me to plug it up in time.

Desire

Reading the second Sutra, I must apply it to something with which I am currently struggling: my desire to eat animal crackers with chocolate chips in large quantities. I want them. I eat them. I want more. It's a cycle that is hard to break. Why is this bad? They are not very healthy. I think it is OK to eat them in small amounts. Like little rewards or tasty celebrations of flavor in my mouth. But to gluttonously keep going back to the bag of chocolate and jar of cookies...this is certainly allowing my desires (manas) to be in control of my mind and body. I would like to be able to control this desire as part of my yoga training. If I can successfully control my manas thoughts, I can be on my way to a yogic path of controlling my world.

The Yoga Sutras

I am finally finding time to start reading The Yoga Sutras as translated by Sri Swami Satchidananda. I'll be writing my thoughts on what I read in the Sutras over the next few weeks in this blog.

I am beginning at the beginning. :) As the fhe first Sutra states, "Now (finally!), I begin my Yoga instruction."

Sidenote: Besides the cover graphic, there are four other pictures in this book. They are all the same: a photo of Sri Swami Stchidananda and his piercing gaze, right at me.

Onions Grow in Clumps

A week of relaxation, and tension continues. Although my husband and I have refreshed and re-energized our relationship, tensions in family matters deepen. Another issue with family, another onion to peel. Instinctively, I push it to my husband to resolve. Not this time. Some of what I am reading and becoming aware of in yoga and the sutras awakens me to the fact that I may be the thread in his family. Maybe it was not just fate that brought me to my husband and his family. I may be what will keep them together.

Since we have been together, my husband's relationship with his parents has been better and deepened. With this heavy problem facing me, I look back and see that I have been a reluctant sounding board for all of them. They are a very volatile group. They project outwardly to everyone. This can be very heavy for many people, who shy away from their persona. The ones who stay are either there for the ride, or strong enough to push back. I push back on my husband and lend strength and support when needed. Now, I realize, I need to directly strengthen the parents. I have been support through my husband, but I have come to a point where I fear without a direct push, relationships can not be saved.

After peeling my last onion, I have already been able to get to what I think is the rotten layer without confrontation. But, I strategize. The dramatic person in me has formed many scenarios, but logic and calm must touch each and form a presentation that will be constructive and objective. I imagine the outcomes. I prepare to get to the heart of another onion I did not want to peel.

Heart of an Onion

We are about to go on vacation. The children will be left with family and my husband and I are to spend some much-needed adult time together. Interestingly, we have had one of the largest arguments we've ever had over the last couple days. When I look at the issues surrounding our arguments and tension, it's like peeling back the layers of an onion. On the surface, something causes the "snap". Usually something trivial. With my husband it was about how clean the house is kept. As usual, I think he's being completely silly and I argued right back. More issues surface, more tension created. No one backing down. (A little side history about my husband and I--we are both first-borns. We are both strong-willed, hard-headed and dig in when attacked. This does not bode well for family discussions. Even when we agree to disagree, we have a hard time reminding ourselves to drop it.)

So our big argument lasted two days. When we finally got to the heart of the onion, it was not resolved but we did finally agree to take baby steps in fixing some things. But there is no big fix. Deep inside our boundaries and desires are rooted. It may be our undoing in the future, but we chose, this time, to continue living for this moment and being happy. What more can you do? Even at the heart, an onion still smells funky.

Was the Moon "Just Right"?

I joined the "Yoga Lovers" team on Sparkpeople a few months ago and I took part in the April Yoga Challenge. I'm not sure where "competitive drive" falls in avidya, but I'm sure it's a branch of it somewhere. I'm doing it in good spirit and to help encourage me and others to practice more often. To be par with this month's challenge, I had to had to practice yoga twice today. I did some this morning after exercise, then this evening I attended Kathy's Ashtanga class.

The Ashtanga class felt REALLY GOOD. Maybe it was the early morning warm up? Maybe it was the tone of Kathy's class and the centered energy of the yoga practitioners in there? Maybe it was the fact that the moon is just right? I felt right on and my practice flowed smoothly, except for when I had no clue which pose was next. But even this I worked through my feelings of discomfort and dissatisfaction with my lack of knowledge. Reminding myself that I'm just beginning and no one was criticizing me, I dissolved the negative energy and refocused. I would just hold a pose until Kathy's signal, or someone else reminded me which pose was next.

Oh! The handstand was great! Not perfect at all. I don't think I held it for more than two breaths. But I felt my feet WANT to go up. And it was one breath more than I did before. As unsteady as it was, it made me smile that it was going so well.