A Yoga Space for All

We stand in the place where opposites come together

Or, as I re-draft this. “We stand in a place where “perceived opposites” come together. We can use our practice today to experience how we feel a presence in our lives in the world and how the world is a presence in our lives.

Whether you have had a heightened experience deeply or remotely during the last weeks to follow the intensity of COVID we were brought back abruptly (back several years perhaps) to the deaths and social unrest stemming from racial violence, retribution and mass frustration.

The principle of Ahisma is the practice of non-violence. The practice is intended to be engaged on and off the “mat”. When our body, emotions or mind are in tremendous resistance, we can use our practice to restructure. That may require modification, removal of expectation or ego parts as we address or change opposite aspects of our pose, belief or lives. Often a muscle might dominate over something. Or, our mind might insist on moving longer or deeper into a stress pattern. Yoga offers another tool in these cases.

Letting Go – non possessiveness helps us to vary our practice and can create a strong relationship with equanimity. It is also mentioned in the yoga Sutra that to release the tendency to grasp or yearn can be brought out in our practice.

In this Yoga set today, I am offering a path and practice to unite and yoke together the moving center, emotional center and the mind. This can bring awareness to these philosophies.

Consider how your body in each pose is a place where aspects of yourself come together. See and feel where the poses might hang you up or push and work through the breath to enhance the union. Try to regain a sense of the balance the pose levels within you following the practice.

Glance through your morning as you approach the Sunday Class.

Link to Class

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85357112117?pwd=VlMvQmNldk0xRUdsbCs2REZzTTV0QT09

Zoom Village Class Pacific Standard Time 9:00 am-10:15 Class ID #853 5711 2117
Password: 031245

========================================================================

💙   Begin with separation of the inhalation and exhalation.

💙   Lie of your back with a prop under your head and knees bent or resting on a bolster

💙   Our 4 minute breathing practice will lead to deeper and slower breaths. Try to engage in awareness on the moments of pause and shift from one to the other.

💙   Remove any bolster and continue to bend your knees suspending/them above your hips

💙   Allow even gentle rocking of your whole body

💙   From a seated position stretch over one leg, then the other (3 times)

💙   Calm your breathe to a slow and deeper pace as you reach your arms overhead

💙   Now stretch both legs in front of you and both arms up (alt. use a blanket under hips)

💙   Use your hands and knees to come into kneeling dog stretch – release your wrists

💙   Now, engage opposites energies of your back-front core–notice strengths & resistance

💙   Engage in Standing poses

1. · Tadansana
2. · Reaching back leg extension
3. · Warrior 1
4. · Warrior 3 (prep – meaning leaving back leg down)

💙   Return to Mountain pose and enter silent sun salutation – 8 sets

💙   Phase into wide leg stances

1. · High lunging
2. · Triangle Pose
3. · Warrior two
4.  End in a revolved pose of choice (revolved triangle, lunge, or half moon) 

💙   Return to Mountain pose and enter silent sun salutation – 4 sets

💙   This can be an excellent time to unify elements of your practice.

Consider your stages of awareness, your moving center, your mind (ego) and your heart.

1. · Balance with your feet (toes lifted, calves lifted) and (repeat with arms raised)
2. · Balance on one foot (turning out one knee – tree pose)
3. · Balance with one leg crossed and one bent behind (stability-strength-flexibility) Dancers pose)
4. · Finally open up from a high lunge to Warrior 3 (lifting the back leg this time)

💙   Return to Mountain pose and enter silent sun salutation – 2 sets

💙   Return to your seated position with single leg and both arms stretched forward (both sides)

💙   After a Slight Twist engage in comfort of kneeling pose (alt use low blanket under knees)

1. Experience Camel Pose – 3 times

💙   Lie on your back (use a strap if available) press one leg against couch or wall

1. Maneuver the alternate leg in lifted leg series
2. Switch legs

💙   Return to prone position for plank pose on forearms or palms 

💙   Return to kneeling downward dog

💙   Give yourself kindness! Elevate the legs (up the wall or in shoulder stand alt. blanket prop

We can conclude the practice with knees softly resting. Allow your awareness to reflect on the space of the breath – the space between the breaths. Release attachments and explore parigraha as a state of being.