Nina Pileggi

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Where I Stand

When I was growing up in Cedar Hills, my family “hosted” two black children.  Black children were bussed to my school, and after school a child would come home with us, and wait for the bus to come pick them up.  I remember thier names – Pierre and Tracy.  My recollection is that my mom did this for two years.  I remember how I knew that this was somehow controversial for my family to participate in this.  I see now how little I understood.

The murders of Black people at the hands of the police is horrifying and must stop.

Black Lives Matter.

I am educating myself through books and online courses to help me understand how I can help end anti-Black racism and racism against BIPOC.

As part of the IYNAUS board, I will participate in the initiatives and actions to these attain these goals.

As an individual and teacher, I pledge to:

  • Offer my online classes on a sliding scale to make access available to all
  • Not be silent
  • Create a welcoming space for all
  • Explore other steps I can take such as to offer my skills and time to mentor BIPOC

I know that I can’t just say these things, that I must follow through on my intentions, and improve on them as I learn more.

Nina

 

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Nina’s 5th and last India Blog Post

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.statue
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

our cook

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!

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Nina’s 4th India Blog Post

January 15

Today was taken up with attending the International Symposium on Yoga and Medicine.   This symposium focused on the issues with doing research studies that would produce evidence based proof of yoga’s efficacy for various

at the symposium

issues and ailments.

The speakers were mostly MD’s with a few professors thrown in.  Over all it was informative.  The hospital it was held at announced they were opening a yoga center onsite and would undertake research while offering yoga to their patients.

I attended with Janet, Laura and Melanie.

January 16, 2017

Practice this morning was backbends.  We reviewed Sunita’s class and wore ourselves out.

I again went to the medical class and I was able to assist a person from start to finish.   It was good to have something to do and someone to help.  It made it worthwhile and interesting!

Class with Abhijata was fast paced and fun.

We had discovered that Natural Ice Cream would deliver if you ordered 1 kilogram of ice cream.  So we did!   Now the back story is that we don’t have a working freezer so the two of us attempted to eat it all!  1 kg of ice cream is quite a lot.  We managed to eat about ¾ of it.  It was extremely good ice cream.

Abhijata 6pm class

Adho Mukha Virasana
Adho Mukha Svanasana
Uttanasana
Adho Mukha Svanasana

We then did a standing pose flow:
Tadasana, Utthita Trikonasana, Virabhadrasana II, Utthita Parsvakonasana, Ardha Chandrasana, Virabhadrasana I to Vira III, Urdhva Prasarita Eka Padasana, Parsvottanasana, Parivrtta Trikonasana, Parivrtta Parsvakonasana, Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana, Parsvottanasana, step forward come up.

Prasarita Padottanasana
Full Arm Balance, come down with legs together
Sirsasana to split legs to Virasana in Sirsasana to Parsva Sirsasana with legs in Virasana
Upavista Konasana to Parsva Upavista Konasana, full pose
Parivrtta Trikonasana
Parivrtta Parsvakonasana, back knee down
Parsva Upavista Konasana
Full Arm Balance
Paschimottanasana in wall ropes while others did Marichyasana III, Ardha Matsyendrasana, Parsva Upavista Konasana, etc.
Sarvangasana, Parsva Halasana, leave right foot down, left foot up to come to Parsvaikapada Sarvangasana, then hop foot back in for Eka Pada Sarvangasana.
Supta Konasana to Parsva Halasana to Parsva Karnipidasana
Those who could do Pindasana, Parsva Pindasana did.  Those who could do Parsva Sarvangasana did.
Ended with Parsva Upavista Konasana.  Had the pose changed?

January 17, 2017

Prashant’s class

Today’s topic was the back.  We were to study “backology”.   In each pose were to do by the back, for the back, with the back, of the back.   I found today’s class hard in several ways.  First, I felt tired.  There are always days where you feel like you hit the wall and can’t absorb anymore.  Today seemed to be starting this way.   Also, I overslept and had to hurry to class.

During class it slowly dawned on me that I had no connection to my back at all!   It felt like a dead zone.   I couldn’t do anything by the back.   Then I also realized that Prashant had left the definition of the “back” vague.   I started yoga india symposiumthinking, what is the back?  I realized that my working definition for this moment was the muscles on either side of the thoracic spine.   But the back encompasses much more.   I need to rethink my back and try to make a connection.

We once again went to assist in Gulnaaz’s medical class and then took the beginner class following.   Gulnaaz teaches with sharp attention and friendliness.

Gulnaaz 6pm class

Adho Mukha Svanasana
Uttanasana
Jumping back and forth AMS/Uttanasana
Tadasana
Urdhva Baddanguliasana on the toes
Stand on one leg, bend the other, and hold the other shin with both hands
Stand on leg, hold the other shin with same hand
Vrksasana, hold the shin then balance
Utthita Trikonasana
Virabhadrasana II
Utthita Parsvakonasana
Ardha Chandrasana
Uttanasana
Virasana
Adho Mukha Svanasana
Sirsasana
Chatush Padasana
Setu Bandha on block, feet at wall

January 18th

Sunita’s class was wonderful.  She is keeping it simple, teaching basic actions succinctly.

Tadasana
She asked to observe where our attention was.   After we answered she said we were missing the airpit action.  Back to front.  The theme of the class became clear – broadness of the collar bones.

Urdhva Hastasana
Sirsasana
Sirsasana in ropes (hands holding the ropes variation)
Salabhasana
Dhanurasana
Chaturanga Dandasana
Bhujangasana
Urdhva Mukha Svanasana
Bharadvajasana I
Bharadvajasana II
Leg to Virasana first for beginners.
Marichyasana III
Brick Setu Bandha

After class Eva and Natasza from Poland came over to have lunch.  It was very interesting learning about Iyengar Yoga in Poland.

January 19, 2017

Today’s lunch guest was Janet Lilly.  Janet is an interesting and well-spoken woman.  I am glad we met her.

movie time

At 4pm we went to another gathering hosted by the Institute.  The film, “Light on Sadhana” was shown. This film was prepared to show Mr. Iyengar on the event of his 94th birthday.  It was a touching film.  I especially enjoyed the photos of Mr. Iyengar doing fun things like bowling, swinging and eating ice cream.

Class with Raya followed and it was a killer.   We did jumpings and arm balances.  My arms are completely fatigued.

Urdhva Hastasana to Uttanasana x6
Uttanasana to AMS x6
AMS to UMS x6
UMS to Chaturanga Dandasana x6
Surya Namaskar x6
Surya Namaskar as described in LOY x6
AMS jump to Urdhva Prasarita Eka Padasana 3x right, 3x left alternate x3
AMS jump to UPEP then back to chaturanga Dandasana to AMS
AMS jump to U. Trikonasana
AMS jump to PVK
AMS jump to Trikonasana correct hand
AMS jump to PVK correct hand
AMP jump to Ardha Chandrasana
AMS jump to Vira I
AMS jump to Malasana
Dandasana to Lolasana
Navasana to Lolasana
Navasana to Lolasana to AMS
Eka Hasta Bhujasana
Eka Hasta Bhujasana hook other foot on top
Bhujapidasana
Half Bhujapidasana Half Bakasana
Tittibasanana
Bakasana
Pasc. To Halasana
Tadasana, Uttan., Malasana, Halasana
Pasc., Sarv, Halasana.
Supta Baddha Konasana

January 20th

We had met Gulnaaz on the lane during our walk home from Raya’s class.  When she heard we were going to her 7am class on Friday, she offered us a ride to her studio.  We met her at 6:30am.

We attended two back to back classes.

7am

AMS/Uttanasana, back and forth x2
Tadasana
Trikonasana x2
Parivrtta Trikonasana x3
1. Reach to inner arch x3
2. Reach to ankle x3
3. Reach to outer foot x3

Vira  II
Parivrtta Parsvakonasana

  1. Put hand by arch x3
  2. Hook elbow x3
  3. Reach for the floor x3

Sirsasana, Parsva Sirsasana
Sarvangasana, Halasana
Supta Baddha Konasana

8am Class

AMV, AMS, Uttanasana
3 UMS to AMS
Surya Namaskar
Salabasana
lift right arm, and down, lift left arm and down.  And then legs one at a time.  Then arms to gether and legs together.  Then the whole thing

Dhanurasana
Bhujangasana
Urdhva Mukha Svanasana
Chatush Padasana (put hand on the back)
Supta Baddha Konasana

In the afternoon we went to MG Road for shopping in the afternoon and lunch with Priyanka’s friend.

January 21, 2017

Today was a long and fun day.  We started with Sunita’s class at 9:30am.  Backbends for the third time in a row!
After lunch, Nana picked us up for a day of site seeing around Pune.  Nana is a rickshaw driver extraordinaire.  You call up Nana a few days in advance and reserve his time.  He then will take you wherever you need a wait while you shop or tour temples.   Today we asked Nana to take us site seeing within the city of Pune.   After a discuss in Marathi with Priyanka we settled on an itinerary.   The highlights were as follows.

Museum:  We went to a museum of Indian artifacts are art.   I especially enjoyed the musical instrument section.   I didn’t realize how complicated a sitar was and am now wondering how it is tuned and how all the strings function.

temple

Temple:   We went to a temple built in the 1700’s.  The architecture was beautiful.  The temple had a older part and a newer, more ornate hall added on.   Only exterior pictures were allowed.

Sikh Temple:  we stopped briefly at the Sikh temple.   The friendly man who greeted us wanted to know where we were from.  On our exit he offered us food.   The design of the temple was very different from the Hindu temples.

Empress Botanical Garden:  we had a nice break from the noise and traffic at the botanical garden.   It was nice to sit in the shade and wait out the hottest part of the day.

Meditation Temple:  Nana took us to the meditation temple and library of Sri Vivekananda.  We enjoyed sitting quietly for about 10 minutes.   Nana treated us to some very good street chai.

Parvati Hill:  there was a temple on this hill and it was a long walk up.  We saw goats on the path.  Nana timed it just right for us.  The day had cooled and we had fantastic views of Pune from every direction.   Pune is truly a huge city.

Dinner at Shrabee, more ice cream at Natural ice cream and then home!

Sunita’s 9:30am class
“exist in your buttocks”

AMV
AMS
Utthita Trikonasana:  left leg diagonally back to get feel of buttock in.
Utthita Parsvakonasana
Virabhadrasana I
Virabhadrasana I with chair
Sirsasana
Sirsasana to Viparita Dandasana

UD and DPVD with feet on height – stage, benches, chair, etc.
learn to go up with arm/shoulder blades and legs/hips/buttocks, not with spine

Sarvangasana drop to Setu Bandha (no blankets under the shoulders)

Sunday January 22

Today we went on a birding safari.  The trip included a boating adventure on Bhigwan Resevoir to see flamingoes

Pavarti Hill Temple

and a visit to a hill temple of Bhuleshwar, the famous temple of Lord Shiva.

The village of Bhigwan was very small and the only way to get there was on a bumpy narrow road.  We were served a traditional breakfast and chai.  We then took an hour boat trip to see the flamingoes.   The boats kept their distance, but we had a good pair of binoculars to see the birds.  They were spectacular.

The temple was fantastic – it was built in the 1300’s.    The ancient stone carvings were mesmerizing.  Our guide, who has a master in Indology share many insights into the carvings and the temples history.

For lunch we had Thali.  This is traditional Maharashtrian food.   The dishes were varied and plentiful.  I especially liked the fritters.

 

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THE THIRD POST

3rd India Blog Post
January 10th
Abhijata and Raya are offering regular talks to the foreigners.   Today at 4pm we met for an hour and 45 minutes.   Abhijata asked us what we would like to talk about.  The first topic that was mentioned was worry about doing poses or methods that were not “Iyengar”.   Raya said that if what was being taught fit into a logical sequence, was taught to make a point or try out an action, and that it was understood what the classic pose was, then the methodology was probably ok.  Examples were given.   Sirsasana with the heels together and the toes out was taught to teach the firmness of the hip socket.   But this variation is not classic Sirsasana.  We are to understand the classic pose.

We also discussed how in the west students take from many teachers.  They wanted to know why that was.   Answers were varied.

A story was shared by Raya about Guruji.  He told Raya that if you are going to teach a 60 minute class you should practice for 3 hours.  If you are going to have your students do 10 handstands you should do 30.   You should know how your class is going to affect the students.

 

Abhitjata told a funny story about how Geeta decided to try a pedicure.  A student came to the house and gave Geeta the pedicure.   Guruji came home and asked what was happening.  Geeta told him, and Guruji asked for a pedicure as well.  The next day Guruji walked into the practice hall and saw the student who had given him the pedicure.  He asked her – what have you done to my feet?  Apparently he could tell that she had removed more callus on one side of his foot compared to the other side!

January 11, 2017

Once again Sunita asked us to sit with our eyes open.  Her class was precisely taught with wonderful sequencing and linking.  We worked on several Sirsasana variations at the wall.  Amazingly, we all got two turns at the wall to practice the variations.  Sunita really wanted us to have the chance for the wall be our teacher.

About halfway through class, Geeta entered the room and starting watching the class.   Knowing she was there made my eyes tear up with a sudden love for her.   She watched and corrected a few students near her.   When they tried to give her the microphone she said no, that she would just start shouting!   She continued to watch until class was over.  As we were getting up, Raya told us we could all face Geeta and say Namaskar to her.   It was a solemn moment.   Geeta stayed at the horse, with her back to the grill and chest open.   On my way out I stopped and said Namaskar again.  She looked at me in the eye and gave me a small nod.

Sunita’s 9:30am class
Adho Mukha Virasana
AMS
Uttanasana
Tadasana:  don’t exhibit your thighs or buttocks.
Utthita Trikonasana to Utthita Parsvakonasana
Parsvottanasana to Virabhadrasana III
Parsvottanasana to Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana
Prasarita Padottanasana

parivrttaikapada sirsasana with wardrobe as guide for feet!

Virasana to watch Sirsasana Demo:   We were going to do variations at the wall.  Sunita said to note the leg positions of the standing poses we had just practiced prepared us for the leg variations.  Very clever!

Sirsasana
Parsva Sirsasana
Parivrttaikapada Sirsasana

We watched Eka Pada and Parsvaika Pada Sirsasana as demonstrated by Raya:  Foot to chair.  Use the chair and wall to understand what you are doing.

While watching Sirsasana we did Parsva Dandasana, Parsva Upavista Konasana, Parsva Baddha Konasana

Ardha Halasana:  feet on the wall, then to Sarvangasana
Eka Pada Sarvangasana:  Bring foot to the wall.
Paschimottanasana
Uttanasana as Savasana:   close the eyes to come up, and don’t come through concave back.

I had invited Carmella from NY over to lunch after class.   Carmella was wonderful company and we after lunch we decided to walk over to Dimpex.  Dimpex sells batik shirts, shorts, wall hangings, etc.  Fun stuff and nice people! We finished our lunch with Carmella with by walking to the ice cream store for mango ice cream.

January 12th

Gulnaaz had invited me to come assist in her therapy class.  I was excited to do this!   I helped to hold people’s legs, showed some standing poses, set up a few poses and then pushed hard on someone’s arms.  I learned a lot in that hour.

We rode back to the Institute with Nikki from New York.   She was also helping Gulnaaz.   We had a great talk and discovered that both of us were deeply inspired by Mary Dunn.

Raya’s class was wonderful.  He asked us about our obsession with sitting on blankets.   For the invocation we sat on a narrow flat block with our buttock bones at the front edge.  Raya said the block would bring clarity.  He was absolutely right.    We also put our hand in pachima Namaskar for the invocation.  – Very interesting!  The class was a combination of shoulder actions needed for twisting poses and the twisting poses themselves.

Raya’s 6pm Class
Invocation:  sit on narrow block, hands in Pachima Namaskar
Dandasana:  sit on narrow block
Parsva Dandasana: sit on narrow block, feet apart
Parsva Dandasana:  sit on rolled “fat” narrow blanket
Adho Mukha Svanasana
Tadasana with Pachima Namaskar
Tadasana with Pachima Namaskar partner gives you a block the narrow way.  Then partner does Namaskarasana with block in front of the chest.
Tadasana with Pachima Namaskar flat block to back, hands on outside of block (block between back and hands).
Bharadvajasana I:  right buttock bone on the block. 3x to right without changing to the left

  1. Turn with right hand to blanket
  2. Turn with right hand catching the left heel
  3. Turn with right hand reaching around the right waist

Baddha Hastasana

Raya gave a long talk about shoulder and arm actions.  He told us to look at Guruji photos of Pasasana, Bharadvajasana I for example.  Look at the length in his forearm and wrist. Look at the position of his hand and thumbs.  Go for that.   You don’t always need to clasp.

We did a lot of work relaxing the shoulder, reaching from shoulder to elbow, elbow to wrist, wrist to fingers, keep the hand away form the back and take the right hand behind the back.  We played with the hand gripping the upper arm strongly, and then with the hand and fingers soft and just reach.

Bharadvajasana II:  Right buttock bone on the block.  Try first with hand just reaching, not holding the foot, then hold the foot.

Marichyasana III, sit on rolled blanket.  Make your left arm straight and your hands like oars. Steer your boat and balance the effort of the arms or your boat will go in circles.

Paschimottanasana: sit on narrow brick.

Setu Bandha on the brick.   Extend your arms and turn your palms up.  See that you don’t over rotate the arms, the biceps should face the ceiling and triceps face the floor.   Maintain that arm position and turn the palms down.  Don’t pinch the shoulder blades.

January 13th 

We go up early to go to a 8am class with Gulnaaz Dashti at her center on Baner Road.  Nikki, Becky and Nina from the US were also there.  It was a beginner class and no props were used!  Not even a blanket to sit on at the beginning of class.  It was an active class filled with movement.   “No excuses” were allowed.

We were offered a ride back to the institute from Ketki, a local student.   I am always amazed at how friendly the culture is here.

After we got home we practiced the sequence from Raya’s class.   Then I rounded out my day by observing and helping in the medical class, taking a pranayama class and back at home, we watched a video of Geeta.

Beginner class with Gulnaaz

Adho Mukha Virasana
Adho Mukha Svanasana
Uttanasana
Tadasana
Tadasana with outer feet as wide as the mat
This was to learn what the outer body was, and how to make the feet parallel to each other
Urdhva Hastasana
Urdhva Baddanguliasana
Feet wide, UH to Uttanasana, five times, hold on the last one
Same thing, feet together
Parsvottanasana to UH in Parsvottanasana up and down 5 times, hold the last time x2
Dandasana, classic
Dandasana legs as wide as the hips
UH Dandasana (legs wide) to Paschimottanasana concave back, x5, quick, hold all 10 toes on the last one.
Same as above but legs together.
Rolling, Paschimottanasana to Halasana x10, then x20
Stand up, UH to Sarvangasana x10, don’t use arms to get up and down.
Chatush Padasana x4, hold the ankles!
Supta Baddha Konasana hold ankles, no support
Savasana

January 14, 2016

Happy Makar Sankranti!

nina pileggi in india

ok, just one selfie

This morning’s class was with Sunita and we practiced inversions and backwards extensions.   The class was invigorating and challenging. Sunita made us also think hard – questioning us after each asana “how is it?”.  Sometimes the class struggled to answer and sometimes the answers flowed.  I got the nerve up to offer my opinion once!    After we had done some full arm balance, Pincha Mayurasana and Sirsasana, we were vibrant and awake.   Sunita told us this is how we should come to class, in that state, rather than in a sluggish state.    She also talked about how the throat gets hard in inversions and backwards extensions and how we should not let that happen.  “find Savasana state in every asana”.

After class I was invited to lunch with Janet MacLeod’s friend Sunil and his family.   Sunil is a long-time student at the Institute.  Today happened to be Makar Sankrant,i a holiday celebrating the beginning of longer daylight time.   I was picked up by Sunil and whisked away to his home (after stopping at a temple).   I was served delicious food – a bean dish, rice and dal, and chapatti’s with a tasty syrup made from jaggery.   I was told that this particular jaggery dish was only made once a year, on this holiday.   Part of this holiday’s tradition is that women give each other presents.   I was given a beautiful small purse.   The hospitality and generosity was extremely touching.   To top it all off, their daughter gave me a ride home on a scooter.  It was exhilarating and not really scary to weave in and out of other scooters, cars and rickshaws.

Sunita’s 9:30am Class
Adho Mukha Virasana
Adho Mukha Svanasana
Adho Mukha Vrksasana (full arm balance) x4
dominant leg, non-dominant leg, both legs (2 attempts)
Pincha Mayurasana
Ardha Adho Mukha Vrksasana (feet to wall in pike position) x3
Third time lift one leg straight up, like an upside down Virabhadrasana III.  Then change.
Sirsasana
Urdhva Mukha Savasana x4-5   first times classic, then 2 attempts with hands on blocks
armpit chest forward must come first!
Ustrasana x2
Urdhva Dhanurasana x3
No props, in center of the room
Urdhva Dhanurasana x3 or 4
hands on blocks at wall
Urdhva Dhanurasana x3
feet on flat blocks at wall
Urdhva Dhanurasana off stage x2
hands on floor, feet on stage
Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana off stage
kick over to come out
Halasana, Karnapidasana on bolster
topple method
Uttanasana for Savasana