Cricket on the yoga blankets

photo, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

This Is Cricket, Kristin's cat. If you have a photo of your cat, dog or boa constrictor lounging on your yoga props, send it to me and I'll be happy to post it.
I think those of us who have pets in our homes learn a practice of pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses). Since, if we do not learn to ignore the endless shedding, meowing or face licking, we would never do any poses at all.
A practice of vairagya (detachment) is essential when practicing at home. Ignore the phone, don't worry if the laundry is not finished and the pets will grow accustomed to your being on the floor. What is more important? Your shoulder blades are creeping up your neck, your hamstrings are tightening with every moment. You can clean the toilet tomorrow and yes, you will still wake up tomorrow to find the world intact even if you have missed your favorite television show. Practice!

Blog Info

Thank you to all who take the time to read my blog. I have learned how to do alot of hi-tech computer stuff through this blog. There is a new 'page' option over there on the side bar. There you will find new page titles listed. Just click on the title and it will pull up a new page with some exciting new boring stuff that you may or may not find interesting. Click on 'home' to get back here to the main page.

I have also put the comment option back at the bottom of the posts. Please feel free to leave comments and perhaps some kind of online discussion can result. I originally created this blog to serve you, the student, so if there is something that you would like to see more of, please remember that I am only human, and ask anyway.

Sage Patanjali

IMG_0134, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

I bow before the noblest of sages, Patanjali
Who brought serenity of mind by his work on Yoga
Clarity of speech by his work on grammar, and
Purity of body by his work on medicine.

Hanuman, Lord of Prana, God of Courage. Every breath he takes is devoted to Isvara.

Love Hanuman, originally uploaded by arjuna_zbycho.

I salute Lord Hanuman, Lord of Breath, Son of the Wind God -
who bears five faces and dwells within us
In the form of five winds or energies
pervading our body, mind and soul,

who reunited Prakrti with Purusa
May He bless the practitioner
by uniting his vital energy - prana-
with the Divine Spirit within.

Sutra Class June 26

In the upcoming sutra class we will look at the sutras that deal with karma. Read sutras 2.11 - 2.16 of the 2nd chapter, Sadhana Pada. be sure to read the commentaries along with each sutra. If you have translations other than BKS Iyengar's, chose one or two that you find particularly interesting and be prepared to share it with the class.

Here are some questions for thought and discussion.

Before I act, do I consider how my actions might influence my immediate or distant future, the people involved in my life or people I consider strangers?

Do I create my own unhappiness?

How much of what I do is repetition and habit without thought of consequence?

What pleasure is holding me prisoner? How can it benefit me or others to detach myself from it?

Are my experiences determined or influenced by previous experiences?

Further Contemplations

Do I dare disturb the universe? In a minute there is time for decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.

from The Love song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot

I am picking up this post from a topic that came up in class today. Someone posed the question "What can I do to become more compassionate?" I did not have a suitable answer and still do not. My reply at the time was to re- count my own experiences with this same quandary. I gave the example of being stuck in the line of traffic at the train tracks. If the driver at the head of the line had fully realized that she was responsible for the 30 or more cars stuck behind her, she may have simply given up her need to turn left, into the train, gone straight, re-directed and let everyone else go on their way. I marched to the top of the car line and told her to turn so that all the other cars could be free.

One could argue that I did a service to all those other drivers by telling her to move. Another outlook is that I was being impatient and not considering her feelings. (It was obvious that I freaked her out.) Another outlook is that I take a disgusting joy in bossing strangers around. Yet another outlook... we could go on and on. At the time I felt like she was putting her need above others, a simple need at that. It was very easy for her (after my prompting) to turn into the adjacent parking lot to wait out the train and let all the other drivers turn right or go straight. Or, maybe I'm just a bitch.

What can I do to become more compassionate? Stop yelling at strangers for starters.

I try to get closer to being compassionate by remembering my own pain. When I starting sharing with people my past, and sometimes present, problems with anxiety and panic attacks I was met with surprise. "You, Kquvien? But you seem so strong, so confident." I realized that we have to take a deeper look at people. We really have no idea what may be going on beneath the everyday exterior. There may be turmoil and grief, or there may not be, but our attempts to give them the benefit of the doubt cultivates patience and understanding.

Try again

I have had twists on the brain more than usual lately.

Supta Tadasana

Supta Pavanmukhtasana - lay on your back, pull your knees into your chest

Jathara Parivartanasana- legs bent

Supta Padangusthasana 1

Parivrtta Supta Padangusthasana - 2x

Parsvottanasana

Parivrtta Trikonasana- 4x

Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana - 2x

Sirsasana - eka pada and Parsva variations

Marichyasana 3

Ardha Matsyendrasana

Paschimottanasana

Halasana

Salamba Sarvangasana

Setu Bandha on a brick

Savasana

Twist a Little