Rope Wall

My new studio has a Great Yoga Wall. It is a rope wall fairly common in Iyengar studios, but a very special one. The Great Yoga Wall, has specially designed straps for hanging and holding various body parts. It is a great way to do supported poses, such as inversions. And it also allows for extension and traction. Some of the straps are padded so it is much more comfortable than most rope walls.

I am very excited about the possibilities for the rope wall, and I am including more wall activities into my practice every day.

New Studio

Great News! My new studio complete. I started having private sessions this week and it is wonderful! Please contact me if you are interested in seeing my studio, and if you are interested in a private session.

Standing Poses: Downward Dog 11/5/08

We begin this class with seated centering and gentle breathing practice. This is a fine opportunity to set an intention for your practice, ie. dedicating your practice to yourself, or others; expanding your sense of awareness of the present moment and living from that moment.

After a few warmup poses we learn about inner and outer shoulder rotation. This is essential for chest opening poses such as downward dog, Adho Mukha Svanasana. Gomukhasana, cow-face pose, is a good beginning for shoulder and upper chest work. Working in a simple cross legged pose, not the full pose which includes thigh rotation as well.

Our Vinyasa includes the shoulder rotation sequence practiced earlier, the downward dog pose coupled with lunges, Uttanasana, standing forward bend and Tadasana, mountain pose.

Class Lesson: Restorative - 10/30/08

This class is designed around Parsvakonasana, Extended Lateral Side Angle Pose with a block, utilizing three aspects of this pose, shoulder release, torso twists and hip opening. It is a restorative class, meaning the poses are done with support to allow for resting in the pose instead of holding (using your muscles to hold your body up.)

Start with a passive chest opener using a blanket roll assist in opening the chest. Releasing the shoulders, the collar bone region and opening the upper inner arms is the point of this restorative pose.

Chair poses are excellent restorative asanas and offer many opportunities for proper alignment. The chair can assist with dogward dog, Adho Mukha Savasana, seated twists and hip opening poses.

Toward the end of the class we practice Viloma I pranayama, interrupted/retention breathing. Iyengar suggests pranayama is post-graduate work, not to be attempted by novices, but rather under the guidance of an experienced instructor.

As always Savansana, relaxation is the final pose.

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Benefits of Private Sessions

I am teaching a Private Session today, and I spoke with someone recently about private lessons, so decided I would write down some of their benefits for this blog.

Several simple and compelling reasons come to mind:

a. These lessons take place at your convenience, both at a convenient time and place. While it is an advantage to be in a studio, it is possible to have a lesson at your home or work site as long as there is an open space large enough for two mats. One hour sessions are optimal, half hour ones can also work.

b. The content can be adjusted to fit your physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Do you desire more rigorous asana? No problem. More meditation? Always a good idea. 

c. Chronic health conditions can be handled in a private setting much more easily, with more depth and comfort for the practitioner.

d. Developing a personal practice can be a goal for your private sessions, or the private sessions can become your personal practice, the way one would work with a Personal Trainer at a fitness center on a regular basis.

The benefits of Private Sessions are almost always worth the increase in cost. The value of individual attention, coupled with scheduling convenience mean Private Sessions can be very worthwhile.      

  

Class Review October 1

This class was designed around Utthita Trikonasana, Extended Triangle Pose. It is generally considered one of the most important standing poses.

We started with Utthita Trikonasana using a block to assist in alignment of the torso. Using strong feet, with lifted and engaged thighs, we moved to include a revolved torso and fully extended arms. 

We moved then to Utthita Parsvakonasana, Extended Lateral Side Angle Pose, also with a block. We engaged the inner thigh of the front bent leg to help keep the knee in alignment over the front ankle. The block also assisted in this alignment.

Our next pose was Virabhadrasana II, Warrior II, also with a bent front knee. Extending strongly through the back leg, and the arms, our torsos were able to lift and rotate. 

Ardha Chandrasana, Half Moon Pose, balanced against the wall completed our choices for this class. At the end we 

wove the four poses together in a sequence.