Goodness

The theme this week was Goodness.  Getting back to a classic style flow with poses that never go out of style and always feel good.  Turning to ujjayi pranayama as a form of support and a natural way of creating connection.  Going back to a classic, simple, good place.  Like your favorite noodle casserole :)  

Often all we need to do is come back to what drew us to the practice in the first place.  What basic goodness do you want to get back to?  The flow included familiar poses, nothing too tricky or unusual.  

I did spice up the surya namaskars with a longer flow of half salutations in which students could go at their own pace.  We moved into surya namaskar A, and students again were given a couple minutes to flow through several rounds on their own.  I added big arm circles with steeple mudra to 4 or 5 poses to help students open their thoracic spine.  Students could choose smaller circles concentrating on shoulders and upper back or bigger circles getting deeper into the hips, legs and lower back.  Thanks for joining me,  Lynn

The Pause

This week we honored the pause, the sacred pause.  I invited students to find that extra bit of quiet and pause each time they returned to downward facing dog.  Bringing balance to the practice by being still and listening to yourself.  Finding the stillness in the pause... meeting yourself there.  

To be present in this moment of pause so you can harness your energy on what it is you want to create or connect with or make space for.    We focused on forward folding poses today.   Deep hamstring work.  And a chance to have a more introspective energy to the practice.  (Additionally, students were encouraged to find the pause at the bottom of the exhale.  That split second to linger before the new breath arises).

Our apex pose was parsvottanasana.  In parsvottanasana, I oriented students to shoulder principles.  This let the deep leg work be supported by a touch of a backbend to make it that much more delicious & balanced.  Tips included:  extend your sternum away from your navel, spread your collarbones (like cobra pose), draw your shoulders back to align with your side body, and soften your shoulders to release them down towards your hips to prevent tension in the upper back.  Thanks for practicing, Lynn

Springtime

Springtime was the theme this week.  This practice was all about the celebration of spring.  And after a couple weeks of rain, we got our gorgeous spring weather this week.  The focus was tapping into the newness that spring brings with uplifting, energizing poses  ... aka, arm balances :)  

This practice inspired what's possible and what's thrilling as we practiced crow, side crow, a unique variation of pigeon into jump switches, and breath of joy brought more effervescence!  We smiled, we balanced, we tried new things.  Intentions were set either around the springtime theme or anything else students wanted to bring to the forefront.  

Savasana brought in gratitude for the colors and vibrancy around us and within us.  Thanks for practicing with me,  Lynn

Midline work

Midline work is interesting and profound work.  Most of us can benefit from coming center .... this fortifies us.  It helps us be more courageous, strong and restful.  We started with a meditation to help let the brain rest, to help let the mind soften.  

Sensing centerline, when your right and left hands press together:  notice the place where  there is no right or left.  Right and left are moving to midline equally, then reverberating out in a quiet, stable way.  See yourself moving through your practice, through your day from midline.  

What is the perfect yoga pose?  Any pose done to the very best of one's honest ability.  With 3 components:  gazing steadily, breathing sweetly, and thinking of how it will help someone else (our yoga practice leaves a powerful imprint.  Others can pick up on that healing energy and it may inspire them to do something healing for themselves).

We focused on hip opening poses and a variety of balancing poses to receive the support of the midline.   And to prepare us for the apex pose: bird of paradise.    Namaste, Lynn

Reciprocity

This week we focused on the earth element.  Feeling the support of the earth beneath us, the firm, solid ground .... it's a really wonderful, stabilizing force.  An earth-based practice is also a great remedy for the "over-thinking" mind.  We can walk through our days so caught up in thought we don't even notice our bodies or feel our feet walk on the Earth.    

What's really key is this reciprocity of you releasing, rooting down and that feeling of stability, support, structure moving up your body.  As you listen for that feedback in your foundation (the silent strength of the Earth supporting you), an ease, a quiet, a calm comes to the mind and the nervous system.    In addition to the vinyasa flow, students explored drishti, the feeling of stability, and fun exercises to strengthen their feet.