Natarajasana

DSC00633, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

My challenges in this pose are many. The first being keeping my triceps rolling in as I take the shoulder blades down and in. I felt like my left hip and thigh were well turned inward, but this photo tells me differently. I love this pose and put it in my regular backbend practice. I often practice it facing the wall, so I can extend an arm forward if I lose my balance, which I do often in this pose. My husband quickly shot this picture since I was not facing the wall and managing to maintain some poise and balance. When I look at this picture, I want my tailbone to move in as I press that lifted foot and shin back. Next time.

Date Change

The sutra class on April 24 has been rescheduled for Saturday May 1st. Stillwater Studio, 2 - 4:30pm.

DSC00623, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

This is Titus. He slept the entire night in that bag.

Sutra Contemplation

For the upcoming sutra class, please read sutras 3-11 of Sadhana Pada. Including commentaries of whatever translation you may have. Here are some questions for contemplation. Consider these as you are reading the sutras.

Am I able to recognize my mistakes, accept failures and question myself? ( this is a practice of svadhyaya)

When I find myself making excuses to defend myself, do I truly, deeply believe they are real or am I simply trying to avoid discomfort?

What situations or circumstances lead to ego, attachment, repulsion, then fear for me?

And lastly, this is an actual assignment. In a previous sutra class we have covered sutra 2.33. Here it is.

vitarkabadhane pratipaksabhavanam

BKS Iyengar's translation:

Principles which run contrary to the yamas and niyamas are to countered with the knowledge of discrimination.

Edwin F. Bryant:

Upon being harassed by negative thoughts, one should cultivate counteracting thoughts.

Put this sutra into practice. Do not stop at thinking. Manifest the counteracting thought. For example, if you experience aversion towards a particular person, cultivate a friendship with that individual. We can put this sutra into practice on any number of levels, great or small. Start small, write down the experience and evolve to a greater one next time. Like your asana practice. Remember that a yoga practice first must be practiced. It is not yoga if the intention is not their, the vairagya, the detaching ourselves from whatever my be keeping us from those practices. These practices are never ending, in a pose, in a car, at our jobs, even in the privacy of our own minds. Relate any of these experiences with this assignment to the assigned sutras.

Sutra Classes

Sutra classes have been scheduled for March 27 and April 24. Both dates are Saturdays, Stillwater Yoga Studio 2pm-4:30pm. More information will follow soon.

CRIM0263, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

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CRIM0237, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

In front of the entrance to the gateway to the house. Lots of pigs.

CRIM0247, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

As you can see, I liked this place. I took lots of photos.

CRIM0252, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

This little boy was hilarious, and very welcoming to us at the house. They had a small radio playing some Indian music, I had alot of fun dancing around with this cute kid.

CRIM0253, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

CRIM0257, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

CRIM0245, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

CRIM0265, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

CRIM0246, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

CRIM0244, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

Outside of the House temple

CRIM0258, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

Inside the house/temple

CRIM0262, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

This is inside the Sridhi Shakti House. I am most definitely spelling that incorrectly. It was a beautiful place. That is my Pune roommate, Ana.

CRIM0241, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

Late Sequence

This is a sequence from the Wednesday night vinyasa class. I meant to post this a few weeks ago, but, alas. So, here it is, finally.

Baddha Konasana, paschimottanasana ( back & forth, several times)

Baddha Konasana, paschimottanasana, upavistha konasana (back&forth, several times)

Baddha Konasana, paschimottanasana, upavistha konasana, Paripurna navasana, ardha navasana, paschimottanasana - several times

Supta Padangusthasana-1,2,3 & parivrtta

Rolls- paschimottanasana to halasana- at least 10

Rolls, halasana to uttanasana-5

Tadasana

Vrksasana

Uthitta Hasta padangusthasana 1

Urdhva Ardha Padmasana

Uthitta Parsva Hasta Padangusthasana

Utkatasana

Garudasana

Suryanamaskar (sun salutations)- 10 vary speeds and holds of poses

All on right side- Vrksasana, Uthitta hasta padangusthasana, Urdhva ardha padmasana, Uthitta Parsva Hasta Padangusthasana, utkatasana, garudasana Then repeat all the standing poses on the left side

Adho Mukha vrksasana

Adho mukha vrksasana- fingertips to wall

Utkatasana

Virabhadrasana 1 to virabhadrasana 3- 3 times remember the handstand close to the wall

Prasarita Padottanasana

Sirsasana

Paryankasana- on brick

Ustrasana

urdhva dhanurasana

Adho Mukha svanasana

uttanasana, parsva uttanasana

Salamba Sarvangasana

Halasana

Marichyasana 3

Paschimottanasana

Savasana

This is a big sequence with alot of poses. A fun thing for you to experiment with in your home practice: do this sequence one day within only one hour, the next day do it and take up more times, 2 or 3 hours.