Thoughts on Virabadrasana

Virabhadrasana is the "Warrior Pose". There are three different warrior poses: I, II, and III. I'm not sure why they are labeled such, but in Downward Dogs and Warriors the author (Newell) states that it does not indicate an order to the poses, but the number of limbs extended in the pose. That does not really sit with me as there are two limbs extended for each I and II. I digress.

What I do like about her discussion in the book is that she suggests moving through the poses II to I to III. I tried this, and I like the flow. To mimic a common phrase of a warrior, I think the poses are "READY, AIM, FIRE". Virabhadrasana II is the READY position. Virabhadrasana I is the AIM position. Virabhadrasana III is the FIRE position.

The story the author uses behind Virabhadrasana is one of Shiva as a destroyer. After his first wife was sacrificed by her own family, Shiva became incensed. One hair fell from his head and from it sprang Virabhadra, the "personification of righteous anger and the noble impulse to defend the innocent." A warrior. Virabhadra then flew to Shiva's in-laws and destroyed everything.

Throughout the book, Newell suggests that asanas invoke particular emotions within individual people. The warrior pose may invoke strength in some people. She suggests that once you are in the pose, think about how you feel. Angry? Strong? Drained? This may give you insight to what pose invokes what energy (ie relaxed vs vigorous).

One step back, two steps forward

My boys, 4 years old and 2 years old, are showing some much progress in skiing. My 4 year old is riding jumps (but not really jumping) with confidence. But my 2 year old is amazing me. Just a few days ago, I was just happy he would get his gear on. Then, walking him down the hill, I would guide his turns tried not to fall over. He would cry when he would slide on his skis. I do not know why! He would enjoy getting up on the magic carpet, too. But the whole "skiing" part freaked him out. This has been the hardest on me and my back!

Yesterday, I put the reins on him. Still walking (running) down the little magic carpet hill, he'd fuss a little. But when my 4 year old came into view, he was excited and did not mind skiing. Today, on a whim (and the fact that it was 35 degrees) I took both of them on the slow, beginner chair lift. I expected the worst. I feared one of them falling off. But it was fine. My eldest is an old pro getting on and off the lift. My littlest was THRILLED to be on the chair lift. He grinned the whole way. He loved seeing the other skiers go down the hill. He did very well on the reins down the hill. He only fell because I would pull back too hard. His stance was great and he listened well. I really did not think it would go so well.

Downward Dogs and Warriors

A book I ordered came in. Downward Dogs and Warriors by Zo Newell. This is an interactive book offering a fresh view of using yoga stories not just enhance your asana practice, but applying yoga to your life. Zo has collected stories of Shiva and applied them to particular asanas. She tells the story, desribes the pose (good for beginners), then offers pointers for practicing and embodying the pose. Her questions to the reader are meant to be thought provoking and offer a journaling aspect to bring about a deeper sense of self.

I think this book would be particularly good for people who have emotional issues, or need guidance through a difficult transition in their life.

Don't meditate on your problems

Satchidanada's Weekly Words are about taking the "yogic approach" to problems. When someone has a problem, they mentally fixate on it, allowing it to take center stage in the mind. It is, in effect, a meditation on a problem. Satchidananda states, "Instead, put in new ideas, constructive ideas, and let those ideas take the place of the mental fixations. That is the spiritual way, the yogic approach. When something worries you, create opposite thoughts."

I think this is something that is easier said than done! If something really bothers you, "just" meditating on something else does not make the problem go away. If it is a problem that can be easily solved by action, then act! But if it is something that you have no control over then it is best to meditate away from it.

Satchdananda uses the example of "hating" somebody. He states, "Instead of trying to find ways to get out of that hatred, just ignore it and try to love. Think of love, love, love, and the hatred will slowly go away, automatically." Personally, I think it is best to find the root of the "hate" and fix it. Then use "love, love, love" to heal the residue of hate.

And, as always, "with regular practice of both physical and mental Yoga, for example, prayer, meditation, japa, asanas and pranayama, along with proper diet, you can easily overcome this trouble instead of worrying about it and constantly thinking about it." And blow some bubbles.

Subbing again

I subbed a power yoga class again at my friend's health club. I decided that I wanted to try the 9-pose standing sequence from FitSugar. Despite practicing it at home several times, I blanked out on the order of the sequence. But, I improvised and, of course, the practitioners did not know. I also did all of the core poses that I wanted to have them do. It feels good to get into a groove of teaching and feel comfortable switching up a class impromptu.

The Seniors class in a few weeks will be more challenging. More breating techniques, more gentle poses. One would think slowing down a class might be easier. But after teaching 45-minute classes, and hour and a half will be interesting.

Seniors class

It is official! I will be taking over the Seniors class on Tuesdays from 10-11:30. I'm so high right now!!

Ashtanga class tonight

Kathy is going to be away for a while. I rearranged my schedule to take her class tonight. Funny thing...others had same idea to we were packed in the little studio. But it worked out very well. We were all very aware of each other. It seemed to me as though our energy flowed much better AS A GROUP.

For the past two weeks, Kathy has assisted my Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana. With help, my leg was higher, my back straighter, my balance better and I could actually settle into the pose and relax rather than grunt and wiggle, trying to stay up. Tonight, no assistance. But the pose was comfortable, leg was high (enough) and my balance was very stable. I felt one step forward on that pose tonight, and same with Adho Mukha Vrksasana handstand. Each night I practice it, i am able to hold up just another heartbeat or two longer.

Pictures/Portfolio

The folks at Jay Peak asked me to create a flyer for the Apres Ski Yoga sessions we are offering. I have no good pictures of me doing yoga (except in a bikini--hardly "apres ski"). So, this evening I set up my camera in the corner of the dining room. The photo shoot proved difficult because I not only had to focus the camera on nothing, but then I had to run and get into position before the timer ended. I realized that I need to have a real session sometime so I have pictures in my portfolio.

Purity via Yama and Niyama

Satchidananda focuses this week's Words on how to obtain mental purity. He states that, "when you become more established in yama and niyama, your concentration becomes easy." The reason you have trouble keeping the mind focused during meditation is "...because it has accumulated so much of worldly desires..it doesn’t want to stick to one place." Through my discussion of the yamas and niyamas in December, this was made clear to me.

There was one thing I disagreed with the way he wrote his Words. He began, "If we are going to practice Yoga continually and a little more deeply, then naturally we must have mental purity." This seems to put the cart before the horse, in my opinion. You don't need to have mental purity to achieve a deeper practice of yoga. I think that through a regular, focused practice of yoga, you achieve mental purity. But my name is not Sri Swami Jaycie. What do I know, really? :)

Investigating Pratyahara

The fifth limb of yoga is pratyahara. Summed up as "sense control", Desikachar translates it as "to withdraw oneself from that which nourishes the senses." He says it is to stop living off the things that stimulate. Once we achieve pratyahara, we will not be driven by our senses.

To me, this limb deals with addiction and the gluttony of our mind to want for more. The nose says, "smell this!" the eyes say, "look at that!" the nerves say, "get me some coffee!"

In pratyahara, we are able to disconnect from the senses and focus only on the mind. It does not mean we are asleep and our senses stop working. Our senses are still sending stimuli, but our mind stops responding--primarily because our mind has become absorbed in itself. It is important to understand, also, that pratyahara is not a state of decreased sense, but a state of increased consciousness. It is a shift in awareness from outside to inside.

One may think that pratyahara can only be achieved when you decide, "I want to meditate." But, although it is along the path leading to samadhi, there are many manifestations of pratyahara.

For example, when I think I hear my child crying, I will close my eyes and cock my head in the direction of the sound. In this, I have withdrawn from sight stimuli and focused on listening. And even in that listening, I am not responding to sounds that are not a child crying. I am focused on what sound is like a crying child.

When I teach yoga, I do not hear what is going on outside of the room. I am in a loud, bustling gym and there is soft yoga music playing. But I do not hear this. I listen to the breath of my students. I listen to my breath. This may not be full withdrawal, but it is controlling what I respond to as stimuli. As a matter of fact, when I am done, I sometimes forget to turn the music off!

It seems that practicing pratyahra is a particularly good exercise for fidgety people. People who constantly react to external stimuli can lessen associated problems (high blood pressure, for one!) by controlling that which excites them. It should also be a good practice for people with addictions such as to food or drugs. But as with any practice, it is not easy and must be attended to every minute of the wakeful day.

Desikachar reminds us that pratyahara is a state that can occur spontaneously. You can practice the means to make it happen, but it happens by itself.

Tonight's practice

Tonight's practice was very focused. Kathy helped me with uttita hasta padangustasana. Light as a feather. Then I helped another student with marichyasana C. I attempted and landed many "fancy" vinyasa between the seated postures. I held several a strong navasana. And I held adho mukha vrksasana several moments, several times. When Kathy pop-quizzed us, I recalled the answers quickly. Esp the yamas and niyamas. Every practice gets stronger and steadier.

Finding bliss in music: U2's Bad

I have a lot of favorite songs. Songs that I listen to evoke emotion, change my mood. Or just phase out of the confusion around me. The one song that ALWAYS settles me is U2's "Bad", particularly the live version on Wide Awake in America. For 20 years, the music alone never fails to clear my mind and bring me to the present moment. Although Bono claims that the words are about heroin addition, I interpret it as spiritual cleansing. Especially:

If I could, through myself, set your spirit free
I'd lead your heart away, see you break, break away
Into the light and to the day.

To let it go and so to find away.
To let it go and so find away.
I'm wide awake.
I'm wide awake, wide awake.
I'm not sleeping.

Tonight, it came on the Sirius radio. My kids, my husband and I played the song. We had our percussion instruments (maracas, tambourine, sticks to bang on the table) and we just all rocked out together.

A blissful mind...

...is reflected in a blissful face. Satchidanada's Words this week touch on how a person's mind is reflected in their face and body.

“Every thought changes our face, and it’s not only the face, the entire body is changed, though the change is more visible in the face. By this we can assume that thoughts have a say over the body, and if certain thoughts are very strong, the body changes according to those thoughts. If you want to have a nice, beautiful, relaxed, charming face and body, you have to think in that way. All the thoughts must be like that. Then you get that face. It’s not just external makeup that’s going to make the face attractive, it is the thought. A pure mind will give a very shining and attractive face. You get real personality and real magnetism by your own thoughts."

Sometimes I see people who carry their body with a great deal of heaviness. And not just overweight people. Even healthy-looking people walk around as though their body is holding them down. The face is the same--heavy. They seem to struggle to put a smile on. It seems that these people have a heavy mind, things bother them and it compiles a weight in their head. Everyone sees the weight in their body language and eyes.

I also see people who have a fidgety face. Turning nervously around, looking around constantly. They do not seem to actually be seeing anything. But just fleeting glances around. Their body twitches when they move. What is in that mind? Multi-tasking? Worrying too much about everything?

It is amazing how one's mind is reflected in their face and boddy language.

One change to 9-pose Sequence

After a day of snowboarding and teaching kids to ski, I tried out the FitSugar 9-pose sequence. I warmed up with two Surya-A, then did the 9-pose twice on both sides. First time, as is. Second time, I changed the 7th pose to "reverse warrior"--i.e. just extended the front leg. This was easier for me to do, maybe because legs were a little crampy from all that snow I blew through!

9-pose Sequence from FitSugar

Jenny Sugar posted a 9-pose asana sequence focusing on the lower body. It went through it briefly--I like the flows! I will be trying this in the next class I teach.