My crow pose is officially where I want it to be. I've been doing it everywhere... in my classroom, on the basketball court, the carpet store... I am obsessed now that I am finally able to hold it. I have to credit this little success to a tip we were given last weekend - look up ahead of you when getting into the asana. It was that simple. Amazing.
I have have some great stories from this past weekend, but I started a new job teaching in an upper el Montessori class and have so much to plan. I wanted to pop this video in here at some point, and thought this would be the perfect time. I was finally able to get into crow pose today!!!!!! It was incredible. This weekend, Teri Leigh has been with us, talking about balance. Really getting into the intricacies of the asanas. Definitely interesting. I'm a natural skeptic, and so I came into the weekend with one eyebrow raised, but settled in quickly, deciding to just take it in and process (taking and leaving what I want) later. It was great to get a fresh perspective on the specifics of balance within major regions of the body. We can use one asana to dive into each one - standing mountain. Beginning with Muladhara - standing on all 4 corners of the feet with the outer edges of the feet parallel. Feeling a balance between support and fear. What she referred to as Vinyasa - engaging the adductors to balance fluidity with strength & control. Uddiyana Bandha - turning on the abdominal muscles and turning in the tail bone. This can help us find a balance in identity without being insecure or egotistical. Jalandara - aligning the head/neck with the spine and allowing the front and back of the neck to be open equally. A good test is the Ujjayi breath. Jalandara will bring ease to breath and, along with Uddiyana Bandha, afford us deep breathing. Finally Drrishti - the external and internal focus that creates intentionality and calmness. With Drrishti, our entire practice can become a prayer or meditation.
The overall idea being that, by utilizing these 5 'locks' or 'embraces,' you will learn to align your postures accurately for your specific body instead of working to look like an instructor or image of a person with a completely different body -- and therefore -- a different version of accurate. The idea of 'finding your center' can sound complicated or maybe even a bit 'hippie-dippy,' but it is something that many people work for everyday. It's not some freaky place of incense and peppermint, but rather your now - the center between your past and future - your present. We hear people say 'be here now' or 'live in the moment.' Finding your center is quite simply finding your now, your present, your moment... And consciously choosing to live win that realm of your life.
After tonight's hot vinyasa, I've decided two things: first, I truly do prefer hot vinyasa to bikram, and second, Sheetal is one of my favorite teachers of all time. She is great at reading the class and providing lots of options that allow the widest range of students to practice in flow. I was also able to practice half moon again, as well as bird of paradise. I'm feeling very content right now, but also excited for restorative in an hour...
Another quick note - I just observed a woman in her mid-70's stop her car in the grocery store parking lot to pick up a Pepsi can off the ground - creating the world she wants to live in. I remember my friends playfully teasing me in high school for doing that all the time. What happened? It served as a great reminder. I went to an AMAZING and intense Vinyasa class this morning. The teacher was wonderful and made the flow so perfect that I actually achieved my -- first ever -- accurate Ardha Chandrasana (half moon)! This is a pose I've been struggling with for weeks. I could not be happier. :) I even tried Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana, but it was far from perfect. I signed up for hot Vinyasa tomorrow with one of my new favorite teachers and Restorative tomorrow and Ashtanga Wednesday night. The next asana I want to conquer is Bakasana... I'm getting close, but nothing to write home about yet. ![]() Bakasana (Crow) This was a strange week - full of ups & downs - but I feel that I am beginning to become more conscious of the power my thoughts hold lately. This past week was full of interesting experiences. There was a nice surprise at the coffee shop at the beginning of the week when I ordered myself a mocha and immediately thought, "I really don't want that, I should have ordered a latte." However, I didn't speak up. I left the shop, took my first sip, and realized that the woman had actually made me a latte instead. It was a nice surprise. On the other hand, I had a big state test scheduled for Saturday that I have been dreading. I kept thinking that I could really use a couple more days.. "if I only had a couple more days to study!" I arrive nice and early for the exam, but my name was not on 'the list.' I had rescheduled the test over the phone, and apparently it didn't go through, so I was forced to reschedule (yet again) for Tuesday.
I suppose the moral of the story is exactly as Pamela says, "Be careful what you wish for because you might just get it." By the way, I have been working on illustrating some of the basic concepts, which I will be posting soon. :) These are Iyengar rooted concepts explained as I understand them. |
Ashley AnneYoga teacher, traveller, Montessori educator, model, and art enthusiast. Archives
December 2015
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