Training Thoughts

This weekend I was fortunate to attend a training for yoga. It was approximately 8 to 6 each day and involved varied topics. My thoughts from training are numerous and take some processing but they will definitely show up here and there in classes very soon! We discussed more poses, chakras, verbal adjusting/enhancing, cueing, warming breath, types of learning, aruvedic thoughts and subsequently a book I want to read by Robert Svoboda. My goals include getting off the mat more as I teach, and direct personal verbal adjusting. I enjoyed absorbing a variety of perspectives and comments, both internally and through others. It's refreshing to encounter positive spirits that are striving to be kind and better teachers, working through the 8 limbs of yoga and working to be a more delightful presence on this planet, within this enthralling universe.

Namaste,
Kat

Time

This planet is about 4.6 billion years old. It was a molten ball, later an oceanic sterile sphere, and now it teems with life from thermal vents to icy waters to lush jungles. Humans have roughly been around 3 million years, depending on what you consider human, some would say more like 30 thousand. Absolute max, each of us will move through this planet for 130 years.

Makes you think right? How do we get caught up in the small stuff? Life is so precious on this vivacious blue planet, and definitely rare in this universe. Take each day as a beautiful, precious, and divine blink in the grand scheme of things. Balance your life with short-term and long term joy. Try to keep this big picture in mind if you have to deal with a crazy driver, or some chore around the house. Take some moments every day to enjoy the beauty of this world, and the joy of life and it's fragility.

Namaste,
Katherine

Mrtasana - The Pose of the Corpse

Each time we end yoga, we arrive at our final relaxation. Known as Savasana (also spelled Shavasana or Sarvasana) the meaning of the sanskrit word above in the title (stated mrta-asana) literally means corpse. It can be found at any time but is most often noticed gently giving closure to each yoga practice. The amount of time we can explore here varies from a few minutes, up to a half hour, some suggestions state approximately 5 minutes for every 30 minutes of practice. I want to take a little more time this week to experience and develop what we are feeling and what we are doing here.

Arms are typically near the sides of the body, but might be as far out as 45 degrees, with palms facing skyward. The hips are relaxed, allowing the ankles and feet to fall limp. The torso and core are loose, moving only with the rise and fall of breath. Is is especially important to align the neck as best we can, allowing each ear to be equidistant from the tops of the shoulders, a parter or teacher may help see what we can't ourselves.

In this pose, we can being by focusing on relaxing all muscles of the physical body as we find a full deep breath, and especially explore letting go with the supports around our sense organs. We relax the tongue and mouth, nose and eyes, and the ears as well, feeling each of them unengage and sink gently. In this resting pose, our mind calms, stress is reduced, and our blood pressure is likely to lower. We can free the mind to nothingness, a sweet interlude.

See you in Savasana!

Kat

Yog-blah?

Ever feel like you are in a yoga pause? Maybe you feel like you aren't gaining ground in terms of flexibility, breath, or other things. But consider that neither are you losing ground! Society has allowed us to lose some of the innate strength and posture our predecessors experienced consistently. Instead of working on the farm, we're slouchin' on the couch. Rather than sitting up straight in a wood chair, we're hunching towards that computer screen and forgetting our spines!

What does it take to maintain? I would say from my own experience that a weekly practice does wonders, both mentally and physically. If you are looking to make noticeable flexibility gains, or strength changes, 2 or more times a week might be something to try and test out. I have definitely noticed more flexibility after about 1 year of steady weekly practice, but when I practice more than once a week, I definitely feel that I'm getting stronger as well. You might consider some introductory weight training to complement your practice. This can build stamina and allow you to rediscover postures from a more steady and confident space. The actual asana might feel like an entirely new experience as our core lifts us, and our shoulders lengthen. A daily practice might just mean 3 sun sals in the morning, or standing in tree while brushing your teeth, even this small series of moments can lead to more awareness throughout our week and get us back into a healthy posture and body nurturing.

Here's to our yoga growth!
Namaste,
Kat