Qualities that make for a Great Day

This week we explored qualities that make for a great day.  Twists to stimulate our digestive system, standing poses to help us feel in command throughout our day, handstands to remember to stay playful, and I peppered the practice with a few fun, energetic 30 second bursts to bring good energy into our day.  

Examples included kicking your heels to your butt while turning in a circle.  Others: chair pose taking right toes out to the right then left toes out to the left, then back to chair with arms back and jump your feet off the ground :)  We did jumping jacks clapping our hands overhead and behind our back, and last burst of energy was high knee lifts slapping our palms which were at navel level. So, you know, classic yoga :)

Students took a couple minutes of free time to explore a pose of their choice.  I invited them to think of a pose that embodied the quality they wanted to interject into their day, be it courage or kindness or calm.  Students were encouraged to connect with a sense of humor so they could let things slide off when they didn't need to stick.  Our practice started with strong sun salutes to greet the day properly.  We built heat, stimulating our systems and engaging our muscles to support ourselves throughout our practice and our day.  Thanks for joining me.  

Namaste, Lynn

Sustenance

This week's theme:  Sustenance.  Things that sustain you:  air, water, nature, a hearty meal, good conversation, sunlight, rest, learning.  We can think of our yoga practice as sustenance ... like we could NOT live without it :)

Yoga is not about competition or comparison;  it can be another way to feed yourself.  A lot of media is set up to make you feel lacking, not enough, like you need something you don't have.  Not yoga .... yoga fills you up!  And another cool thing about yoga:  it helps you stay present to the gift of whatever is before you.  It sustains that in you ... that quality of attention and presence and focus.  Practice included strong leg work, twists, fun balancing sequences, hips and core work.  We breathed into the sustenance of a deep squat (malasana).    Final asanas included pigeon and camel.  We sealed in this effort, this work, this practice with a dreamy savasana and a big Om.  Namaste, Lynn

Be with our Balance

This class called for us to be with our balance.  Students were asked how they'd like to show up as they worked with balance ... dropping into their center and setting ego aside.  

Physically, students were asked to focus on feeling for all 4 corners of their feet rooting, helping to anchor them, ground them.  We worked with this as we moved through the practice.  

Students became aware of their roots, beyond the  physical.  We explored the concept of returning to yourself again and again, anchoring into the present moment, into your intentions.  When we were in an asana like Vasisthasana, I implored students to remember that "imprint", even when they were not standing on their feet.   To feel that same awake energy extending out through all 4 corners of their feet (big toe mound, inner heel, baby toe mound, and outer heel).

Early in practice, we said hello to our balance just by walking.  Students stood at the back of their mat, hands in prayer.  They walked heel to toe to the front of the mat slowly, gaining more awareness of all 4 corners of both feet.  To up the challenge, we then walked backward, toe to heel, with eyes closed.... much harder :)

The close of class asked students to tune into the vibrations within them just by working with balance.  Savasana explored one thing students were grateful their body could do in this practice.  I asked them to feel free to set a new intention as they walked off the mat that supported them in their "balancing act" in life.  "How would you like to show up so you can find your center, your balance?"  My suggestion was to picture their intention already happening.  As if they've already received this blessing.  Namaste, Lynn

Visualize

This week's class was called "Visualize".  We visualized ourselves getting into the pose:  Urdhva Dhanurasana (full wheel).  I opened class discussing the concept of how athletes in competition will sometimes visualize in their mind's eye nailing their dive or serve or dismount.  And those who visualize are often more successful that those who do not.  

We have great power in engaging with our mind.  We don't have to let our minds run the show randomly;  we can actually be the gatekeeper of our mind.  This is an important learning in yoga & meditation.  

In our lives, we can visualize the goals, dreams and accomplishments that we're longing for by seeing ourselves accomplish those things.  The idea is to visualize the successful end goal happening with as many details as you can imagine.  After our opening breath work and intention setting, I took the students through a brief visualization of seeing themselves lift up into full wheel pose.  

We did a well rounded practice including standing poses, thigh stretches, and preliminary back bends on the belly to warm up for our apex pose.  I emphasized drawing arm bones into the shoulders sockets as we progressed through poses so that this alignment skill would serve the students when they explored the challenges of wheel pose.  

In each class throughout the week, a student demonstrated full wheel with a rolled up blanket against a wall. The blanket helps students get deeper into the shoulders, chest and back without the deep bend into the wrist.  The demo allowed other students to see how it was done.  

Yogis practiced full wheel 3 times.  They basked in the potent heart opening feeling after each round.  I reminded them that this pose takes lots of practice and lots of warm-up.  It just takes time, but the body will respond and open overtime.  If visualization helps you, then jot ideas down, journal, contemplate, and continue practicing.  Namaste, Lynn

Plank Play

This week's class was called: plank play.  We played with several variations of side plank.  Pantanjali in the Yoga Sutras says, "the perfect yoga asana is a combination of irresistible stability and alert relaxation".  The class this week helped students explore the balance between effort and ease.  

Physically, we focused on every exhale drawing the belly and ribs in, to support the core and back and to also learn to:  "strengthen, don't tense".  Learning to be in our strength and effort but maintaining an undercurrent of ease.  

I spoke of how the asanas (yoga postures) help you get strong, flexible, bring calm, energy and healing but even more important are the intentions a student percolates through the poses.  Being present, mindful, in the breath as you move.  

We had fun and each student looked at where they wanted to put more effort and where they wanted more ease and how that played out in their poses this week.  Namaste,  Lynn