This is the final installment from my trip. I hope you have enjoyed reading!
January 23, 2017
Abhijata’s 6pm class
Virasana
Supta Virasana
AMS
Full Arm Balance
If we had had time, Pincha Mayurasana
Sirsasana x2
Full Arm Balance: outer eyes wide and open
Urdhva Dhanurasana x6
Setu Bandha
Savasana
January 24
Our last class with Prashant was great. Again he had much to say about yoga beyond the physical practice. He said that the class is not where we learn yoga. In class, we learn what is to be done, the physical form of the posture, etc. But learning yoga took place outside of class.
Also, the right attitude cannot be taught. We have to learn to adjust our attitude to the correct one. He said people had been coming to the Institute for 40 years and still had not cultivated the correct attitude.
An ongoing theme was as always the breath. For example, in Sirsasana we were to find the breath that supported an area of interest. In other words, breathe to quiet the brain, or breathe to activate the brain, etc. Then we were to maintain that breath, that purpose, as we practiced Sirsasana variations. And even as we exited the pose to continue that focus and awareness on the breath.
We did four Sirsasana’s (headstands) for at least 30 minutes in the pose!
Sequence:
Full Arm Balance
AMS
Sirsasana
Utthita Hasta Padangustasana at the grill
Sirsasana with Parsva Sirsasana and Parivrttaikapada Sirsasana
Bharadvajasana I x2
Sirsasana with Eka Pada and Parsva Eka Pada Variations
Bharadvajasana 1 x2
Sirsasana with Parsva and Parivrttaikapada variations
Marichyasana I
Sarvangasana, Eka Pada and Parsva Eka Pada
Once again I assisted at Gulnaaz’s medical class and attended her beginning class afterwards. Studying with Gulnaaz was a great addition to the month. I will miss her.
Class with Gulnaaz
AMV, AMS, Uttanasana
Dandasana, Parsva Dandasana
Janu Sirsasana legs – don’t use the hands to bring the leg back
Parsva Janu Sirsasana – press the knee down with your hand, keep other buttock down.
Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana – reach and go quickly several times
Baddha Konasana, Parsva Baddha Konasana
Upavista Konasana
Parsva Upavist Konasana
Parivrtta Upavista Konasana
Chatush Padasana, Setu Bandha
Supta Baddha Konasana
January 25, 2017
Our last class was here. Once again Sunita taught clearly and with intensity. We were learning the important actions to open the chest in preparation for pranayama.
9:30am Last class with Sunita
Adho Mukha Virasana
Adho Mukha Svanasana
Uttanasana
Sirsasana (with legs 2 feet apart to learn tailbone in)
Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana on floor if able, feet on support if needed, on chair if needed.
DPVD, everyone on chair. No mat.
Setu Bandha on the chair. Bolster, blankets for head. Chair edge comes where palms would hold back in Sarvangasana.
Pranayama sitting in chair. Naval back away from chair back, sternum band towards the chair. Hands hold the side of the chair and are at the same level as the elbows. We did Ujjayi and Viloma 1. Breath like a river, touching the side body and then leaving it.
Savasana
After class, it was time to say good bye to old and new friends! I will miss our cook as well, she was fabulous. And as a last treat, Marla Apt came over for lunch. She had just arrived a few days earlier.
The trip home was long and uneventful. Random travelers were kind to me.
I am extremely happy to be home. I am grateful that I had the chance to make this trip and learn so much.
See you in class!