only 3 hours sleep

Well, I am off to India this evening, and honestly I am too sleep deprived right now to post anything worth meaning. I am planning on posting while I am in Pune, in fact, I will probably have lots of deep, meandering philosophical thoughts to share.  So, I fly out this evening, for a 16 hour flight, followed by a 4 hour car drive, it will be great.  Check back in a few days for a detailed blow by blow account of the exciting journey from Atlanta to Pune.

Standing Poses #1

Standing poses are taught first before other types of poses in the Iyengar system because they deal with parts of the body that are familiar to most of us: the arms and the legs. We spend time on are feet, most of us at least know how to put one foot in front of the other and let our arms swing as we walk. So we start with the arms and the legs and then progress to what is in between them.  Standing poses introduce us to the outer sheath of the body, the annamaya kosa. You know, even if you have been practicing for only a few months that at first all you could do in triangle pose was keep the front leg working, then maybe you discovered what happens when you turn that thigh out, or pushed a little more into the heel of the back foot. You can discover a whole new universe in Uthitta Trikonasana . I continue to be interested in standing poses and whether we are beginners or seasoned practitioners, these are poses that we cannot afford to abandon simply because of the strength they bring to the ankles, legs, hips and the extension they give us in the spine.  Of course we have to practice correctly, or we may be doing more harm than good. So, pay attention to the instructions your teacher gives during the next standing pose class. After class, make a point to write down some of the basic actions, so that you have them on paper and in your mind when you practice these standing pose sequences.

Standing poses for beginners

Tadasana

Urdhva Hastasana

Urdhva Baddanguliasana

Uthitta Trikonasana-2x

Uthitta Parsvakonasana-2x

Virabhadrasana II-2x

Ardha Chandrasana-you can do this pose against the wall if you have been taught that in class

Adho Mukha Svanasana

Chatushpadasana

Salamba Sarvangasana- do not do this pose if you are menstruating, do not do this pose if you have not been taught it in class, and finally, please do not do this pose if you do not have any blankets or other good support underneath your shoulders!

Savasana

Please notice I do not use the English, even if you only practice once a week, knowing the Sanskrit names is important, since those are the true names of the poses. Not all of them are easily translated to English. Get a copy of Light on Yoga, if you keep it out and look at the pages, then do the poses, they will seep into your memory, you just have to have an open mind and be willing.

Standing poses, for more experienced students

Adho Mukha Virasana

Adho Mukha Svanasana

Uttanasana

Uthitta Hasta Padangusthasana

Uthitta Parsva Hasta Padangusthasana

Uthitta Trikonasana

Ardha Chandrasana

Uthitta Parsvakonasana

Virabhadrasana I

Virabhadrasana III

Urdhva Prasarita Eka Padasana

Adho Mukha Vrksasana

Sirsasana

Eka Pada Sirsasana- if you have been taught this pose

Salamba Sarvangasana

Eka Pada Sarvangasana

Parsva Eka Pada Sarvangasana

Setu Bandha and Eka Pada Setu Bandha on a brick

Savasana

II.46 kaya indriya siddhih asuddhiksayat tapasah

Self-discipline burns away impurities and kindles the sparks of divinity