The last two days of classes atRIMYIhave been intense and full of learning. Today was my fourth class in a row. I cannot even describe what that feels like. Yesterday's class was amazing. The teacher was incredible. I will report her name next week - but her style of instruction was precise, encouraging with the theme of focusing on the steps involved in completing a pose. So attention was given to the interim steps and put time an energy on those interim phases as you transform from lying down position into aDhanursasana. It was obvious this teacher was seasoned in age and experience.Theasanatheme involved pushing down thetrapezeusmuscles, working the band of muscles below the back of the neck and above the shoulder blades, positioning of the arms to doGomukhasana, rolling the shoulders back to get additional extension of the arms, adding forward bends, extending the hips as you bend down, extending the shoulders in downward dog position, and pushing from the upper thighs to get the height and the leg extensions in downward dog. All of these leading to a much better and well performedUrdhvaDhanurasana. I was reminded ofPrashantji'swords from his Tuesday class I observed - "Show less and do more". I don't think I have ever felt anasanaas I have feltasana'sthe last two days.Today's (Friday) class was conducted by one of my favorite teachersGulnaaz. I had been looking forward to her the jokes and wise cracks all week. I got plenty and a few planted at my direction as she worked us hard by performing some poses in fast action sequence, especially theHalasana,Sarvangasanasequence. None could handle, we all had an amazing workout that was fun none-the-less. She gave two valuable instructions - one on how to "take off" from aVirbhadraAsanaI to III. The key is the distance between the legs. You have to keep increasing and adjusting as you turn to maintain the distance in order to be able to bend the knee properly in VB-I to then push yourself out with your arms and then rise on your bent leg into the flying pose of VB-III.The second set of instructions pertained to performing aVriksasana. She told the class to not worry about raising the hands up. She said "focus on the strengthening the roots of the tree and the branches will eventually grow". Thismeantget the foot rooted well in the leg/groin region and get the balance. Once you have that the arms will go up naturally. She showed how to best root the foot. I have been been able to do this before. I was able to root my right foot perfectly and with some wallsupportI was inVriksasanaheaven. I still have work to do on the left side, but it will come.Thank youGulnaazyou are the best! Time just flew today. After class I had my daily dose of Coconut water and had a chance to speak with some fellow classmates from abroad. One was a lady from Dubai who had been to Portland and then a German guy named Martin. He plans to attend classes for 3 months. He has been performing these perfect poses in his practice before class and certainly garnering attention from the locals.But when in class no one is perfect - we all are subject to correction and wise cracks fromGulnaazand that just makes this the best class for me. It is not about perfection - it is about being in theasanaand becoming theasanaasGurujistates in one of his interviews. He cannot separate himself from theasana. That is the ultimate progression of yoga becoming an integral part of your life. It could take 50 years of your life but "You are theasanaand theasanais you" is something very achievable for anyone if you can be the doer and be doing more and focusing on learning and understanding theasana. I realized I have been experiencing it all week. That was my invaluable lesson for today what I love about being atRIMYIPune.NamasteThe Yogi
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Theasanatheme involved pushing down thetrapezeusmuscles, working the band of muscles below the back of the neck and above the shoulder blades, positioning of the arms to doGomukhasana, rolling the shoulders back to get additional extension of the arms, adding forward bends, extending the hips as you bend down, extending the shoulders in downward dog position, and pushing from the upper thighs to get the height and the leg extensions in downward dog. All of these leading to a much better and well performedUrdhvaDhanurasana. I was reminded ofPrashantji'swords from his Tuesday class I observed - "Show less and do more". I don't think I have ever felt anasanaas I have feltasana'sthe last two days.
Today's (Friday) class was conducted by one of my favorite teachersGulnaaz. I had been looking forward to her the jokes and wise cracks all week. I got plenty and a few planted at my direction as she worked us hard by performing some poses in fast action sequence, especially theHalasana,Sarvangasanasequence. None could handle, we all had an amazing workout that was fun none-the-less. She gave two valuable instructions - one on how to "take off" from aVirbhadraAsanaI to III. The key is the distance between the legs. You have to keep increasing and adjusting as you turn to maintain the distance in order to be able to bend the knee properly in VB-I to then push yourself out with your arms and then rise on your bent leg into the flying pose of VB-III.
The second set of instructions pertained to performing aVriksasana. She told the class to not worry about raising the hands up. She said "focus on the strengthening the roots of the tree and the branches will eventually grow". Thismeantget the foot rooted well in the leg/groin region and get the balance. Once you have that the arms will go up naturally. She showed how to best root the foot. I have been been able to do this before. I was able to root my right foot perfectly and with some wallsupportI was inVriksasanaheaven. I still have work to do on the left side, but it will come.
Thank youGulnaazyou are the best! Time just flew today. After class I had my daily dose of Coconut water and had a chance to speak with some fellow classmates from abroad. One was a lady from Dubai who had been to Portland and then a German guy named Martin. He plans to attend classes for 3 months. He has been performing these perfect poses in his practice before class and certainly garnering attention from the locals.
But when in class no one is perfect - we all are subject to correction and wise cracks fromGulnaazand that just makes this the best class for me. It is not about perfection - it is about being in theasanaand becoming theasanaasGurujistates in one of his interviews. He cannot separate himself from theasana. That is the ultimate progression of yoga becoming an integral part of your life. It could take 50 years of your life but "You are theasanaand theasanais you" is something very achievable for anyone if you can be the doer and be doing more and focusing on learning and understanding theasana. I realized I have been experiencing it all week. That was my invaluable lesson for today what I love about being atRIMYIPune.
Namaste
The Yogi