Devki isms and other thoughts of getting grounded

Is it Chastise or CHEST-IZE?  
Is it comfortable or COMFOR-TABLE?
Shall we move up the spine or down?
Whatever it is we did,  we did with purpose.  After 3 days now,  I am finally getting grounded.  I not only needed to eat something hearty (thanks Becky),  but I needed to realize I am in control.  In control of my thoughts.  My feelings.  Let it sink in.  Let the yoga penetrate.  Allow the meditation to take you to that place of complete humbleness.  The sounds of the spine,  the root,  the heart,  the head...............they are all there.  All the time.  Whether or not we see them.  Whether or not we feel them.  Whether or not we even pay attention.  They are always there.  We are always able to get to that place.  Maybe it takes a weekend workshop with a humble teacher, maybe it takes breaking down all barriers.  Not just the physical barriers,  but the mental,  the spiritual.  It doesn't matter what you believe,  what higher power you believe in.  It matters that you open your heart,  your eyes,  your soul,  your body to the experience.  Thank you to our friend Devki.  Thank-you to myself for allowing those barriers to break away.  Now I can rebuild again and again and again to a better person.  A better friend,  a better teacher (even though after that I almost feel as if I have nothing to offer but gratitude to my teachers).  Thats it.

Devki Desai

This past weekend a senior teacher from Puna was here. Not only was she compassionate, she was firm in her instructions and wove philosophy and asana well. From what others say who have studied at the institute she is a perfect balance of the 3 Iyengars.
With this, I say thank-you for everything. It has been hard to be inspired lately to blog. This assessment process tends to suck the creativity out of a person. It seems to streamline us so much we forget why we do what we do. So all-n-all, taking time to just practice is a must. STOP studying for second. Stop doing everything for a minute and take care of yourself. Do yoga. Meditate. Breath in and out.

Today I was thinking I was so overwhlemed.  Then I remembered that I am lucky enough to travel with my husband and my dog whenever we wanted.  This kind of freedom is pretty amazing.  I thought this picture represented that.  The dog at the ocean,  just as happy as can be,  tired,  worn out,  full of salt water.  I am hoping that as time passes by I can remember these moments when I am full of pessimism and worn out.  Remember that everyday is a new day.  We get the opportunity to re-invent ourselves when we choose.  We have the option of starting fresh everyday,  every moment if we want to.  

 I have always had this huge fear of inversions.  IN 2009,  I decided this was my year of handstand,  not just kicking up into it a few times here or there.   So everyday,  no matter what,  I kicked up into handstand.  Sometimes it was just downright messy and embarrasing,  but as time went on,  it got easier and easier.  To the point where when I kicked up Robert did not come in to make sure that I was upright and there were no holes in the walls.  Then as time went on I realized that it was not really that big of a deal. I would just practice and it became the 3rd pose I would do just because I could.  It was invigorating!  Then after my last car accident,  I realized that my neck issues were no joke.  I needed to take this serious and take the time to rehab and make things stronger and more stable.  So after many, many headstand push-ups (thanks Lisa) lots of arm work,  I was getting stronger.  Finally after about 7 months of rehab I could go up into Sirsasana (headstand) with no pain.  Now after 18 months,  I can do the pose.  Not just go up and wiggle around,  but I dont' sweat and curse every  teacher for telling me to take my thoracic spine in.  I can do it!

So the moral of this story is,  DON'T GIVE UP!  If you give up you just have to start all over again.  We may have minor set backs here and there, but never let fear get the best of you.  No matter what your age,  your goals,  or physical shape may be,  you always have something to work towards. 

Fear, what fear?

Tadasana-stand with your feet hip width apart if you have arthritis in your hips or your balance is a little wonky today.

Urdvha Hastasana-Place belt around wrists to encourage the elbows to straighten and breath breath breath!

Adho Mukha Svanasana- Dog pose with chair to lengthen the spine.  Do this after the standing poses for 5 breaths.

Utthita Trikonasana-Triangle pose.  If this is still hard on your balance,  try doing the pose with your whole back up against the wall.  Do this twice on both sides.  Afterwards,  do the dog pose with the chair.

Vipariti Karani-Legs up the wall.  You can also place blankets under your hips for more of an inversion.  Make sure that your forehead and chin are on the same plane.  For extra relaxation,  place an eye pillow over your eyes, set the timer for 10 minutes and relax.

 

**This sequence can be longer if would like to add in a few more standing poses,  or try to  balance away from the wall.  

**Here is a quote from B.K.S. Iyengar:  "Fear and fatigue block the mind. Confront both squarely,  and then courage and confidence will flow into you."

I loved this today when I was faced with this myself.  I even began to think more about 

Jack.  We all know Jack,  our Welsh friend from an earlier post.  He constantly inspires me to keep my butt moving.  Never complain and keep your spirit light and FUN!

Thanks Jack for the inspiration.

Ustrasana.......a pose that brings joy to the face!

Today at the Rec center I taught shoulder openers and back bends. I went in for a second time this week not sure what I was going to teach. For selfish reasons I began to think about restoratives, but I remember back that a wise person told me to teach to the class (thanks Craig, Leslie, and mama Donita). So that's what I did. What a lesson I learned today from the Northglenn students! ( all of them.....of all ages)
Teaching today was such a joy. It made me happy, it made me feel better. Not just physically but mentally. For that I thank my students for continuously inspiring me to do more.

Here is the noon sequence. I will get the senior sequence on later today.

Adho mukha virasana
Adho mukha svanasana
Uttanasana, walk back and forth to dog a few times
Tadasana-all below done in tadasana
Urdvha hast asana
Urdvha baddanguliasana
Gomukasana
Garudasana
Vira II
ViraI xs 2
Chatush padasana xs 4
Ustrasana xs 3
Full backbend, keep in mind for you shoulder folks stick with Chatush again
Adho mukha virasana with bolster
Dwi pada pavanmuktasana
Svanasana

Changes are good

I wanted to take a moment this morning since I have not posted in a while.  I have changed jobs in the last two weeks.  It is such a great opportunity for me and I am so excited about the challenges ahead.  It made me think of my practice in a whole different way.  I was reading the Yoga Rahasya and it there was this quote from Guruji I wanted to share before I start my day:

 "Yoga is not doing what you like or what you can."
"I am neither a slave of the body, nor a slave of the mind.  For yoga,  you have to go far beyond will-power."