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

The Voice of Yoga

Yoga can be linked to song in many ways, in some classes the teacher or the whole group may sing, chant or even yell. Today I enjoyed listening to the Summer Singers share Mozart in C Minor. It was a lovely series of Latin verses superimposed over joyful music, for in fact Mozart composed this series for his own treasured wedding. As I listened to the 12 parts, my mind focused on the music at first, but at times my psyche wandered to life, future tasks and goals, and to my dear family, both alive and those that have passed from this world, both recently and long ago. When listening to this classical music, my mind felt occupied on a different level, and I believe to hear this music live and through human voice added a component that I plan to make a part of my life from now on.

Actually, I have been trying to include song in my life more lately because I have been studying the throat chakra, also known as Vishuddha. I happened upon this chakra because I have been going through the loss of a loved one and have experienced a feeling of tightness around my throat and neck, which I think is due to the stress and grief, and somewhat to the inability to release my emotions about the experience as constantly as I need to in order to find balance. I think I am making progress and experiencing growth, but there is definitely more to consider and feel. When or if you sense an imbalance in your body, it is always wise to seek the support of a doctor, but in addition, it might be helpful to consider the chakras, and how we might find gentle and sensible ways to aid in the healing of the mind and body, ourselves.

Namaste,
Kat

Living Yoga

August has arrived quickly, the summer flowing by as it is likely to do. I have done yoga all summer for which I am grateful. Some fun places I have experienced yoga include my hotel workout room at the Westin in Baltimore, on the sunny shores of San Diego pre-surf lesson (see photo, Vanessa and I in dancer), in a small yoga apartment in Manhattan, KS, with a gifted teacher of great peace, and of course at the Barefoot Fitness Studio. I have felt joy experiencing yoga in a variety of places, both with good friends, and by myself also. May your yoga journey also allow you to find the warm embrace of life wherever you are.

In addition, I have read an interesting book this summer, one which has greatly opened my eyes both to the fragility yet resiliency of life, and to the wonder of this planet. If you enjoy science, history, geology, evolution, or just a good story consider checking out A Short History of Nearly Everything, by Bill Bryson. You will not be disappointed.

Namaste,
Kat

Yoga Sola (Yoga Alone)

Sometimes during yoga we feel the energy of the group. A teacher is guiding us, we almost don't have to think, allowing our ears to send signals to the brain which then sends magestic instructions down many nerves in our body. Does yoga at class and yoga at home or by oneself feel different? Of course. Because we must be the guide, making the decision to take the next step. It's really quite a different concept. If you would like to do a yoga class on your own, I recommend the following format as a really rough guide. Let your decisions and desires truly make the practice your own.

Warm up. Find something that is gentle, but brings energy to the back and limbs:
cow/cat
extended spinal balance (where your raise opposite arm and leg)
flowing bridge (on back, raising and lowering hips with knees bent)
sunflowers/moonflowers

Action time. Do some sun salutations, with high or low energy, always taking childs if you want it, not feeling any need to keep pace, or maybe blowing your old pace out of the water, YOU decide.

Strengthen. Try some powerful warriors, I, II, III, maybe throw in triangle, reverse warrior, pyramid. Try to listen to your body and see what it craves, maybe your arms need to power and you seek planks, downdog, or do you feel like inverting? Legs up the wall, handstand, and shoulderstand are all great options.

Balance. Seek tree, eagle, dancer, half moon, maybe try a few linked together on a side, if you feel like one at a time is no longer as challenging.

Release. Pursue some gentle stretching, wide angle, twists, pigeon, slowing down.

Relax. Do you usually relax 2 minutes? Try 10. Normally 15, maybe try 5 and see if it's different.

Bottom line: Yoga is unlimited in its expression, and you have the power to make it your own, and make it what you need right then and there.

Namaste,
Kat

Yoga and Robots

What do you think of when you hear the word robot? Roomba, R2D2, Hal? Something that can't think for itself comes to my mind, maybe no ethics. Something not alive, yet maybe it has some sort of intelligence. I recently attended a teacher training where we put together a robot, and programmed it as well. I was intrigued but not enraptured by the complex connection of small pieces over and over as a structure emerged that could carry out a variety of functions. It could roll around, sense distance through IR and ultrasound sensors, even avoid obstacles and certain surfaces. In fact, we could use a computer program to deliver a list of complex commands that it could carry out for while, til the battery ran down. Even with all this ability, I was struck by how much more complex the human mind and body are, and how we are very far from ever creating a machine that can closely mimic our dynamic organic state. Thank goodness.

Why do we create robots? To explore, work, carry out tasks impossible or distasteful to humans. Maybe wander around the moon, repetitive tasks in a factory, or other jobs that are relatively simple and dangerous. I'm not sure we as a society are asking all the important questions though, just because we can, should we? Replacing human jobs with machines might save some money, but it also puts someone out of work. Traveling to the moon and mars are fine and maybe an interesting challenge, but it costs millions of dollars and we have a huge number of problems to deal with on this planet before we start exporting humans and our civilization around the universe. Why does war drive so much research? That's a question for another day.

I noticed at the conference how people are sometimes nice to each other but often they can also be pretty confrontational, bossy, or just downright mean. Perhaps each of us has some inner work as well, before we strive to make further progress as a civilization forging out of the atmosphere. When people in Africa are being ripped out of their houses and raped, burned and tortured (as I discussed with one fellow attendee about his home country of Kenya), and other atrocities are being played out by the second, is it good for our focus to be outside this little blue planet and all our terrible problems of violence? I'm not sure. I know that yoga has helped me to be a better person and I know I still have far to go. I work hard each day to be kind, to share what I can with others, to give what I can to those that have less than I do, to teach students that weren't born with the security and love and support that I have had my whole life. I will continue to practice yoga, and give what I can, and work to be kind and considerate, without blowing small stuff out of proportion. Because honestly, most of us are so fortunate to have what we do, I believe it is our universal duty to give back.

Namaste,
Kat

A Poem of Remembrance

During yoga, our emotions often surface, sometimes they can even surprise us. This could occur during a very happy time, with feelings of great bliss washing over us. It might also bring feelings of sadness if we have experienced a loss of some sort and have it on our mind, maybe because of a specific date on the calendar, or because the loss was recent. The poem below was sent to me by my sister, who received it from a friend who lost his dad when he was only 19, he's now 47 and carries it with him always. May it bring you comfort to you for any sort of loss of a loved one that you have experienced.

DEATH is nothing at all. I have only slipped away into the next room.
I am I, and you are you. Whatever we were to
each other, that we still are. Call me by my old familiar name, speak
to me in the easy way which you always used. Put no
difference in your tone, wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we
enjoyed together. Let my name be ever the household word that it always
was, let it be spoken without effects, without the
trace of a shadow on it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the
same as it ever was; there is unbroken continuity. Why
should I be out of mind because I am out of sight ? I am waiting for
you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just
around the corner.

All is well

Henry Scott Holland
1847-1918
Canon of St. Paul Cathedral

Namaste,
Kat