Sutra class this Saturday, Oct 3rd

CRIM0058, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

CRIM0228, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

From Patanjali's Yoga Sutras

BKS Iyengar has been quoted "let your pain be your teacher." Here is a quote from his daughter, Geeta Iyengar. "Suppose you have to go to Pune city (India). In between there are many roads where you don't want to walk. They may be dirty, there may be bad traffic or whatever. But still you have to reach the city. And once you reach the city those dirty streets and traffic are behind you. In the same way the crossroads in yoga will be there. So who has to cross them? We have to. Of course some may leave and give up. But this pychology you can't leave. The crossroads will be there. And it's not only a question of body pain. Mental agony will also be there. But how long can you hide? Suppose I want to look younger so I go on using make up and polishing my nails. How long can I hide? You have to face the truth. If one does not face the pain in the present, the pain is stored for the future. It will be worse by that time."

Forward Bends

The Iyengars have put poses in classifications according to the dominating actions of the asana. Forward extensions are known as paschima pratana sthiti. Abdominal asanas are udara akunchana sthiti.

Forward bends are usually associated with hamstring and buttock flexibility or lack of, but we cannot neglect another very essential component. A component that we make efforts to improve in countless other poses. When forward bending, do not neglect the concave stage and truly focus your efforts on moving the shoulder blades into the body and down away from the neck to open the front chest. Bringing life and openness to the chest in the forward bends will begin to bring more length to the spine. Especially those of you who do not enjoy forward bending due to tightness in the back body. Lifting the chest and the front ribs up will begin to move the front of the ribs up away from the abdomen and perhaps begin to take away any feelings of hopelessness (samsaya) that may come.

Adho mukha virasana

Adho mukha svanasana

Uttanasana

Adho mukha vrksasana

Sirsasana

Paripurna navasana

Ardha navasana

Paschimottanasana

Triang mukha eka pada paschimottanasana

Janu sirsasana

Paschimottanasana-5 minutes

Brick Setu bandha- start on low bring and move it to tall when able

Salamba Sarvangasana

Savasana

So, I certainly cannot re create the class with all of my instructions from the actual class. If you were in this class, remember the chest lifting action that we began in adho mukha svanasana and carried through each pose all the way through to sarvangasana. Take particular notice to the mood after the long paschimottanasana. Did it quiet the mind or did it agitate you? How do forward bends normally make you feel and did this way of working have a different effect?